Scope and Contents

The lecture outlines the concept and possible explanations for a differential birth rate, and the relationship between family size and intelligence. Thomson describes the purpose and findings of the Scottish Mental Surveys and follow-up studies.

Also includes invitation from the BBC to undertake the talk, and copy of the agreement form.

Scope and Contents Thomson outlines the purpose of intelligence testing, referring to his own work in Northumberland in 1919, which was to ensure clever children weren't being passed over for entry into secondary education as a result of their social background. In relation to this, Thomson talks about the benefits of standardisation of intelligence tests, and discusses the problem of coaching and how it can be overcome. Thomson also mentions a child who was tested and subsequently given a place in...

Scope and Contents Material regarding the Moray House Tests, c1920s-1970s; Northumberland Mental Tests, c1920s; Sample tests, 1920-1987; Testing Samples, United States, c1920s-1950s; Publications, 1896-c1978; Godfrey Thomson, c1930s-1947; Correspondence...

Scope and Contents Thomson discusses how intelligence is distributed between the various social or occupational levels of society. He explains the normal distribution of intelligence within the population, drawing parallels with the distribution of height. Thomson refers to inquiries carried out by him in Northumberland in 1922, and inquiries carried out in the Isle of Wight in 1924, which demonstrated that individual differences outweigh social differences, and supported the notion that heredity...

Scope and Contents Set of lecture notes titled G, regarding Spearman's Theory of Two Factors in relation to mathematical ability, with illustrative diagrams. The other set of notes relates to this, with further illustrative diagrams including the 9 point circle, and a graph regarding both Scottish Mental Surveys. These are mostly written on the back of minutes from the British Psychological Society business for council meeting, 1951, and minutes...

Scope and Contents

Rough notes which take the form of lists of topics and corresponding examples Thomson wishes to discuss, and includes notes regarding different mental tests; genetic aspects of intelligence; social classes; and vocational selection.

Scope and Contents

Thomson argues that the talents of the individual should be discovered and encouraged, rather than quashed because they are not intellectual enough. He discusses the uses of examinations and intelligence testing in discovering talent, and the need for tests of non-verbal as well as verbal ability.

The speech is written on the back of minutes from the National Committee for the training of Teachers.

Scope and Contents Thomson begins by introducing the concept of individual differences in general terms, before moving on to his own topic of intelligence, and discussing the extent of individual intelligence differences. He illustrates the wideness of the intellectual range within the population by reproducing Cyril Burt's table, Distribution of Intelligence among Children and Adults, which contains suggested IQ scores for different levels of schooling and occupational complexity in...

Scope and Contents In this lecture, Thomson explores what intelligence is. He discusses the tendency to see intelligence and instinct as separate entities, and why he thinks this is inaccurate; the idea that thinking is simply trial and error using concepts and imagery rather than action; and the correlation between consciousness and intelligence in relation to the flashes of insight that come from the unconscious. He also discusses the work of Spearman, suggesting that...