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The Theory of Two Factors versus the Sampling Theory of Mental Ability

Abstract

THE accompanying diagram (Fig. 1) gives a graphic representation of the extent to which an observed frequency distribution of 22,712 tetrad-differences (of the form r12r34r13r24) derived from 170 correlation coefficients between 19 non-overlapping rnental tests approximates, on one hand, to the theoretical distribution to be expected according to the Two Factor Theory of Prof. C. Spearman and, on the other hand, to the theoretical distribution to be expected according to the Sampling Theory of Prof. Godfrey H. Thomson.

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References

  1. Brown, W., and Stephenson, W., "A Test of the Theory of Two Factors", Brit. J. Psychol, 23, Part 4,April 1933. Also NATURE, 130, 588, Oct. 15, 1932.

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  2. Spearman, C., "The Abilities of Man", London, 1927, pp. 74, 75.

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  3. Thomson, Godfrey H., Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 95, 400; 1919. Also Brown, W., and Thomson, G. H., "Essentials of Mental Measurement", 3rd edn., 1925, Cambridge University Press, chap. x.

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  4. Mackie, John, "Mathematical Consequences of Certain Theories of Mental Ability", Proc. Roy. Soc. Ed., 49, Pt. 1, No. 2, Feb. 1929.

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BROWN, W. The Theory of Two Factors versus the Sampling Theory of Mental Ability. Nature 133, 724–725 (1934). https://doi.org/10.1038/133724a0

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