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Expert reference

Charles Spearman

1863–1945 · British

British psychologist who proposed the general intelligence factor (g) and advanced factor-analytic methods in psychology.

This page is an independent reference summary based on public sources. Charles Spearman is not affiliated with CertifiedIQ unless explicitly stated in a primary source linked below.

Reviewed by: Scientific Review Team · Last reviewed: July 2026

Biography

Charles Edward Spearman trained in philosophy and experimental psychology. His statistical work on correlations among cognitive tests led to the two-factor theory of intelligence and influenced twentieth-century psychometrics.

Career timeline

  • 1904 — Published "General Intelligence" introducing the g factor.
  • 1927 — Published The Abilities of Man, consolidating factor-analytic theory.
  • 1931–1936 — Served as president of the British Psychological Society (documented term).

Research interests

  • Factor analysis
  • General intelligence
  • Correlation methods

Main contributions

  • Formulation of the general intelligence factor (g).
  • Pioneering application of factor analysis to mental tests.

Concepts introduced

Publications

  • Spearman, C. (1904). General intelligence. American Journal of Psychology, 15(2), 201–292.
  • Spearman, C. (1927). The Abilities of Man. Macmillan.

Key papers

Related in knowledge graph

External official links

FAQ

Did Spearman invent IQ testing?

No. Spearman contributed statistical theory (g). Practical IQ batteries were developed later by others such as Binet, Terman, and Wechsler.

Is Spearman affiliated with CertifiedIQ?

No. This page summarizes public historical record only.

Sources

  • Spearman, C. (1904). General intelligence. American Journal of Psychology.
  • Encyclopaedia Britannica — Charles Spearman.
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