History of Psychometrics

Psychometrics

The field of study concerned with the theory and technique of psychological measurement, including the measurement of knowledge, abilities, attitudes, and personality traits.

Binet-Simon Scale

The first intelligence test developed by Alfred Binet and Théodore Simon in 1905 to identify children needing special education.

Eugenics

The scientifically discredited social philosophy that advocates for improving the genetic quality of the human population, often through selective breeding.

Mental Age

A measure of an individual's cognitive ability expressed as the age at which an average individual reaches the same level of cognitive ability.

Anthropometric Lab

A laboratory established by Francis Galton in 1884 to measure the physical and psychological attributes of individuals.

Army Alpha Test

A test developed during WWI by Robert Yerkes to assess the intellectual ability of literate recruits in the US armed forces.

Army Beta Test

A non-verbal intelligence test developed during WWI for recruits who were illiterate or did not speak English.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

A standardized psychometric test of adult personality and psychopathology, widely used for screening and diagnosis.

Trait

A relatively enduring disposition that influences behavior across various situations, such as tendencies to act, think, or feel in particular ways.

Projective Tests

Psychological tests in which subjects respond to ambiguous stimuli, revealing hidden emotions and internal conflicts.

Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale

An intelligence test developed by David Wechsler in 1939, which provided a more comprehensive assessment than previous tests.

Standardization Sample

A group that is representative of the population that a test is intended for, used to establish norms for interpreting test scores.

Just Noticeable Difference (JND)

The minimum amount by which stimulus intensity must be changed in order for a difference to be noticed.

Civil Service Testing

A system for evaluating the qualifications of candidates seeking employment in government positions, originally established in ancient China.

Linear Regression

A statistical method for modeling the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables.

Rorschach Inkblot Test

A projective psychological test consisting of inkblots where individuals are asked to interpret their meaning, revealing aspects of their personality.