Criterion, standard, norm

Hi,

criterion, standard and norm are synonymous and interchangeable?

King

Hi,

Are criterion and standard interchangeable  in these cases? Why?

1. What criteria are used for assessing  a student's ability? (a)

   = What standards are used for assessing  a student's ability? (b)

   =What norms are used for assessing  a student's ability? (c)

2.People were very poor then, by today's standards. (d)

=People were very poor then, by today's criteria. (e)

=People were very poor then, by today's norms. (f)

3. Criminal behavior seems to be the norm in this neighbourhood. (g)

= Criminal behavior seems to be the criterion in this neighbourhood. (h)

=Criminal behavior seems to be the standard in this neighbourhood. (i)

King

Can you tell me the clear difference in meaning btw these 3 words? I can't distinguish when I should use standard, when I should use norm, when I should use criterion.

King

Greatking wrote:

Hi, Are criterion and standard interchangeable  in these cases? Why? 1. What criteria are used for assessing  a student's ability? (a)    = What standards are used for assessing  a student's ability? (b)    =What norms are used for assessing  a student's ability? (c) 2.People were very poor then, by today's standards. (d) =People were very poor then, by today's criteria. (e) =People were very poor then, by today's norms. (f) 3. Criminal behavior seems to be the norm in this neighbourhood. (g) = Criminal behavior seems to be the criterion in this neighbourhood. (h) =Criminal behavior seems to be the standard in this neighbourhood. (i) King

1) I think the first two are more or less the same. The last one really doesn't, because the norms would be the typical (average) ability of the student. I think the norms of any group is more a statement of fact rather than a basis for a judgement call.
2) I think all of these are  more or less the same. By criteria, I would assume there is a formally defined list of what it means to be poor and you can decide that other people are poor based on that.  By standards, I would assume you are judgeing by the typical standard of living. Same for norms.
3) g and i makes sense, but h doesn't make sense to me. By norm, I would assume there is a history of criminal behavior in this neighbourhood. By standard, I would assume that everyone indulges in some sort of criminal behavior. h doesn't really make sense because it is a statement, and I've only seen criterion used when someone is makeing a judgement of some type.