Harvard. Exams for Statistics. Ripley, 1909-1910

William Zebina Ripley’s teaching portfolio at Harvard included the methods of (descriptive statistics) which was still not yet a mandatory part of the training of graduate students of economics in 1910. Also worth noting is that there was not a deep bench at Harvard to cover the field of statistics in the first decade of the twentieth century—the course was not offered by anyone in 1905-06.

Ripley lists ten treatises on statistics in his chapter on social statistics in A guide to reading in social ethics and allied subjects (1910), by Francis G. Peabody et al. There is certainly overlap with his course readings there.

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Statistics (Econ 4) Exams
from previous years

1901-02.
1902-03.
1903-04.
1904-05.
1905-06 [not offered]
1906-07. [offered but no printed exam found]
1907-08. [only mid-year exam found]
1908-09.

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Course Description
1909-10

[Economics] 4. Statistics. — Theory, method, and practice. Tu., Th., at 11. First half-year: Professor Ripley. Second half-year: Mr. —.

This course is intended rather as an analysis of methods of research and sources of information than as embodying mere results. A brief history of statistics will be followed by an account of census and other statistical methods in the United States and abroad, with the scientific use and interpretation of results. The main divisions of vital statistics, relating to birth, marriage, morbidity, and mortality, life tables, etc.; the statistics of trade and commerce, such as price indexes, etc.; industrial statistics relating to labor, wages, and employment; statistics of agriculture, manufactures, and transportation, will be then considered in order. Laboratory work, amounting to not less than two hours per week, in the preparation of charts, maps, and diagrams from original material, will be required.

Course 4 is open to students who have taken Economics 1; and it is also open to Juniors and Seniors who are taking Economics 1.

Source: Official Register of Harvard University, Vol. VI, No. 29
(23 July 1909). History and Political Science Comprising the Departments of History and Government, and Economics, 1909-10, p. 53.

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Course Enrollment
1909-10

Economics 4. Professor Ripley. — Statistics. Theory, method, and practice.

Total 26: 8 Graduates, 2 Seniors, 6 Juniors, 4 Freshmen, 6 Others.

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1909-1910, p. 44.

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HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 4
Mid-year Examination, 1909-10

1. Suppose that an investigation as to unemployment in 1909 among 5,000,000 men, showed the following result:—

45 per cent. were idle	1 month,
20 per cent. were idle	4 months,
15 per cent. were idle	7 months,
10 per cent. were idle	9 months,
5 per cent. were idle	11 months.

What would be the average unemployment? Could you state the result in any better way?

2. Fisher estimates a possible average prolongation of life of 15 years; and cites three factors which may still further extend it beyond this limit. What are these?
3. The median age of the population of the United States in 1900 was 22.85; in 1880 it was 20.86. The average age in 1900 was 26.2; in 1880 it was 24.6. (a) Why is the average age so much higher than the median age? (b) Explain how each is obtained. (c) Which is the better mode of expressing the statistical facts?
4. The population of Marseilles in 1828 was 133,000, of which 33,000 were vaccinated. There were 3,330 cases of smallpox of which 2,289 were of persons not vaccinated. Of these latter 420 died; while among 1,041 vaccinated persons stricken, only 17 died. Was vaccination a success or not? Is there a showing unfavorable to vaccination deducible from these figures? Prove in each case by ratios.
5. —

	Standard Birth rate.	Correction Factor.	Crude Birth rate.	Corrected Birth rate.
Boston	39.04	0.8942	29.15	_____
Providence, R. I.	43.86	0.7959	26.46	_____
Native born	30.88	1.1305	15.09	_____
Foreign born	55.67	0.6271	49.37	_____

Explain (a) how this table was constructed in principle; (b) complete it by filling in the blank spaces; and (c) explain exactly what it means.

6. From the age of 10 forward, the probability of death increases progressively. Will a mortality table show more or fewer deaths in consequence between the ages of 60-65 or of 10-15 years?
7. Is registration of births or of deaths making the more rapid progress in the United States? How widely extended is each?
8. How is the birth rate for the United States computed from the census data? What is the principal element of uncertainty in such an estimate?

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University. Mid-year Examinations, 1852-1943. Box 8, Bound Volume: Examination Papers, Mid-Years 1909-10.

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HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ECONOMICS 4
Year-end Examination, 1909-10

1. What is usually conceded to be the best statistical measure of the well-being of a community or a family? Name some authorities who have worked in this field.
2. About how much unemployment is there normally in civilized countries? Criticise the evidence available.
3. Where would you find statistical data as to —
   1. Membership in trade unions?
   2. The amount of gold and silver in circulation in the United States?
   3. Traffic on rivers and canals in the United States?
   4. The prevalence of crime in the different states of the Union?
4. What does the following table show?

Cost of a product valued at $100.

	Materials	Wages	Misc. Exp.	Total
U.S. all industries, 1890	$55.08	$24.36	$6.73	$86.17

5. What is shown by the following table?

Labor cost in three industries.

United States, 1900	Per cent of wages and value of product	Average wages
Iron and steel	15.0	$543
Cotton goods	25.6	$286
Flour and grist mills	3.2	$478

6. Could any change in conditions between 1890 and 1900 be proved by such data?
7. Describe the statistical system as to price movements of Soetbeer in detail.
8. Criticise the Aldrich Committee Report on the movement of wages since 1890.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University, Examination Papers, 1873-1915. Box 9, Bound vol. Examination Papers 1910-11 (HUC 7000.25) Papers Set for Final Examinations in History, Government, Economics,…,Music in Harvard College (June, 1910), p. 40.

Image Source: Harvard University Archives.  William Zebina Ripley [photographic portrait, ca. 1910], J. E. Purdy & Co., J. E. P. & C. (1910). Colorized by Economics in the Rear-view Mirror.