Thomson, Godfrey Hilton, Sir, 1881-1955 (psychologist and Bell Professor of Education, University of Edinburgh)
Person
Found in 259 Collections and/or Records:
Research Committees and Research Workers, 14 Oct 1953
File
Identifier: Coll-1310/3/1/2/35
Scope and Contents
Thomson outlines his ideals for educational research, which he feels is at its best when conducted by an individual investigating fundamental educational problems. He acknowledges that modern research is in reality constrained by input from collaborators or funders. Thomson discusses how research bodies such as the National Foundation and the Scottish Council for Research in Education can help the researcher in a variety of ways, including not limiting the researcher with too many or too...
Dates:
14 Oct 1953
Research in Education, 19 Jan 1929
File
Identifier: Coll-1310/3/1/2/8
Scope and Contents
Thomson outlines the problems and difficulties in Educational research, and how these can be resolved. These include the difficulty of selecting a representative group (the selection fallacy) and the importance of using suitable control groups in experimental work. Thomson also discusses the difficulty of co-operation with schools, particularly state or public schools, and the need for resources to be dedicated to research. He expounds upon the usefulness...
Dates:
19 Jan 1929
Scholarship, Culture, and Vocation: educational Ideals at home and abroad, 31 Jan 1930
File
Identifier: Coll-1310/3/1/3/1
Scope and Contents
The address discusses the apparent schism between scholarship, culture, and vocation, with Thomson making the case that a good education needs to contain aspects of all three in order to produce a whole individual. He illustrates his points with examples of education from around the world. In relation to this, Thomson discusses the project method, which involves students working together using individual skills, the ...
Dates:
31 Jan 1930
Schulaufbau und Lehrerbildung in England und Schottland [Educational structure and teacher education in England and Scotland], 1933
File
Identifier: Coll-1310/3/1/2/22
Scope and Contents
Contains Thomson's typed and handwritten notes, and the final published transcript of the lecture.
The lecture compares the English and Scottish education systems both to each other and to the German system. Thomson discusses private and public schools; examinations; the eleven plus; grammar and modern education; religious schools; and methods of teaching, such as the Dalton Plan.
Dates:
1933
Selection for Higher Education, 6 Nov 1951
File
Identifier: Coll-1310/3/1/3/8
Scope and Contents
The lecture largely concerns how selection for university entrance can be made more fair and equal, beginning at the age of eleven with the eleven-plus examination which determines a child's entry into a grammar or a modern school, the latter of which removes the possibility of attending university. Thomson argues for a mechanism by which pupils wrongly rejected by grammar schools may still enter university. He discusses the influence of industry and...
Dates:
6 Nov 1951
Small album of holiday photographs showing Thomson with friends and family, c1923-1924
File
Identifier: Coll-1310/1/2/7
Scope and Contents
It is unclear where the images were taken, but they possibly date from Thomson's tenure at Columbia University as visiting professor, 1923-1924. Activities include sailing, playing tennis, and rowing.
Dates:
c1923-1924
Small list regarding publications and notes, c1930s
Item
Identifier: Coll-1310/3/3/2/1
Scope and Contents
The list relates to the contents of Thomson's notes, with additional lists of articles and works by authors including R A Fisher, P V Sukhatme, L F Richardson, and Cyril Burt
Dates:
c1930s
Found in:
University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections
/
Papers of Godfrey H. Thomson
/
Unpublished materials authored by Thomson
/
Notes taken by Thomson regarding various publications and subjects including education, statistics, and mathematics
/
Compiled notes on mathematics and statistics
Small photograph album documenting the Thomson family's trip to Italy, 1920
File
Identifier: Coll-1310/1/2/5
Scope and Contents
Most photographs depict scenery and local people, with some photographs of Thomson, Hector, Lady Thomson, and companions.
Dates:
1920
Some National Problems of Today: Education, 18 Jan 1930
File
Identifier: Coll-1310/3/1/2/14
Scope and Contents
Thomson outlines some current problems in education, the most pressing of these arising from the raising of the school leaving age to 15. He briefly alludes to how the practical problems of the supply of specialist teachers and of buildings could meet the increased demand, before outlining his opinion on what secondary education should entail. He highlights the need for both vocational and cultural education in schools to ensure pupils of all abilities are prepared for the working world,...
Dates:
18 Jan 1930
Statistical Methods in Educational and Psychological Problems, 1 Mar 1929
File
Identifier: Coll-1310/3/1/2/9
Scope and Contents
The lecture was delivered to a wide audience, and is designed to be understood by non-statisticians, and non-educators. In it, Thomson explores the uses and limitations of statistics in both education and psychology, illustrating his points with examples of how an educator might effectively predict a child's performance and offer vocational guidance appropriate to their ability and intelligence. Thomson discusses the importance of obtaining a representative sample and the effect...
Dates:
1 Mar 1929
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 253
- Collection 6
- Subject
- Edinburgh -- Scotland 81
- Glenapp Ayrshire Scotland 49
- Education 29
- Intelligence 11
- Intelligence tests 11
- Examinations 7
- Education research 6
- Equalityyy 6
- London (England) 6
- Mathematics 6
- Statistics 6
- Vocational education 6
- Newcastle Upon Tyne (England) 5
- Teachers, Training of 5
- Child psychology 4
- Psychology 4
- Art and science 2
- Child development 2
- Cultural education 2
- Darlington England 2
- Durham England 2
- Educational tests and measurements 2
- Eugenics 2
- Factor analysis 2
- Glasgow Lanarkshire Scotland 2
- Graduation Ceremonies 2
- Heredity 2
- Human Evolution 2
- School community relationship 2
- Scotland -- Aberdeenshire -- Aberdeen 2
- St Andrews (Scotland) 2
- Wigan Lancashire England 2
- American (cultural identity) 1
- Bibliography 1
- Bingley West Yorkshire England 1
- Birmingham (England) 1
- Calculators 1
- Cambridge (England) 1
- Civilisation 1
- Classroom environment 1
- Communities 1
- Cornwall England 1
- Crieff (Scotland) 1
- Dundee Angus Scotland 1
- Edinburgh University Student's Handbook 1
- Education, Higher 1
- English (cultural identity) 1
- English teachers | Training of 1
- Etymology 1
- Falkirk Scotland 1
- German (cultural identity) 1
- Haddington (Scotland) 1
- Heredity, Human 1
- Individual differences 1
- Kassel Germany 1
- Lectures and Lecturing 1
- Leeds (England) 1
- Libraries 1
- Mental deficiency 1
- Music 1
- Nature and Nurture 1
- Newcastle-under-Lyme (England) 1
- Oxford Oxfordshire England 1
- Propaganda 1
- Sampling 1
- Science education 1
- Sheffield (England) 1
- Strasburg Germany 1
- Students 1
- Sunderland (Tyne and Wear, England) 1
- Teaching 1
- Working life 1
- World War, 1914-1918 1
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