[riferguson]

If the job involves writing code, you're going to be asked to write code in the interview.

The "reverse-a-linked-list" question is an attempt at "minimal coding question that anyone should be able to do in 15 minutes at a whiteboard". It's an indicator, a mark of the ability to think on your feet and understand the basics -- think of it as the "pons asinorum" of programming. (cf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pons_asinorum)

If you're going to demand argument-from-authority, I've probably interviewed more than 200 PhD's for various positions over the last 30 years, and a statistically significant number of them were unable to pass a basic set of tests that history has shown to indicate the ability to function in an industrial-style software development environment.

Industry demands a different skill set than research; not better, not worse, just different.

[timr]

I wasn't demanding an argument from authority; I was trying to point out that your argument is just an opinion -- you're already arguing from authority.

" I've probably interviewed more than 200 PhD's for various positions over the last 30 years, and a statistically significant number of them were unable to pass a basic set of tests that history has shown to indicate the ability to function in an industrial-style software development environment."

What you're saying is that a "significant" number of PhDs (from a small sample that you have interviewed), have not passed the tests that you put in front of them. That's a long way from the argument that PhDs tend not to thrive in industry.

Ignoring the fact that you're begging the question (are your tests any good?), I would wager that a "significant number" of interviewees with any degree would fail your tests. The question is, do PhDs fail at a higher or lower rate? I very seriously doubt you have enough data to substantiate your claims about the industry-worthiness of people with doctoral degrees.