Watson grew up on the South Side of Chicago and attended public schools, including Horace Mann Elementary School and South Shore High School. He was fascinated with bird watching, a hobby shared with his father, so he considered majoring in ornithology. Watson appeared on Quiz Kids, a popular radio show that challenged bright youngsters to answer questions. Thanks to the liberal policy of university president Robert Hutchins, he enrolled at the University of Chicago, where he was awarded a tuition scholarship at the age of 15. Among his professors was Louis Leon Thurstone from whom Watson learned about factor analysis, which he would later reference on his controversial views on race.
Watson grew up on the South Side of Chicago and attended public schools, including Horace Mann Elementary School and South Shore High Sc:hool. He was fascinated wi?th bird watching, a hobby shared with his father, so he considered majoring in ornithology. Watson appeared on Quiz Kids, a popular radio show that challenged bright youngsters to answer ,questions. Thanks to the liberal policy of university president Robert Hutchins, ,he enrolled at the University of Chicago, where he was awarded a tuition scholarship at the age of 15. Among his professors was Louis Leon Thurstone from whom Watson learned about factor analysis, which he would later ref:erence on his controversial views on race.