In a way, this relates to the field I got my PhD in (psychometrics)
(we're the ones who make up the tests).

We get involved with how to measure things that are hard to measure.  I
haven't seen this done for coding ability, and I don't know that much
about programming, but it seems like some people want a serious
discussion of this, and I'm game.

Here is one way:

The inbox test.  Find some problem typical of what you need this person
to do.  Give the problem to some genius programmer.  Then give it to
your person.  See how they differ in terms of the things that matter to
you.

That could all be a lot more specific, of course, but it depends so
much on the nature of the job.


Is that useful at all?

Peter




Peter L. Flom, PhD
Assistant Director, Statistics and Data Analysis Core
Center for Drug Use and HIV Research
National Development and Research Institutes
71 W. 23rd St
http://cduhr.ndri.org
www.peterflom.com
New York, NY 10010
(212) 845-4485 (voice)
(917) 438-0894 (fax)