Karl Holzinger

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Karl Holzinger
Born
Karl John Holzinger

(1892-08-09)August 9, 1892
DiedJanuary 15, 1954(1954-01-15) (aged 61)
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of Minnesota
University of Chicago
University College London
Known forFactor analysis
Scientific career
FieldsEducational psychology
Psychometrics
InstitutionsUniversity of Chicago
Thesis The indexing of a mental characteristic  (1922)

Karl John Holzinger (August 9, 1892 – January 15, 1954)[1] was an American educational psychologist known for his work in psychometrics.

Education[edit]

Holzinger received his A.B. and A.M. degrees from the University of Minnesota in 1915 and 1917, respectively.[2] He then attended the University of Chicago, from which he received his Ph.D. in 1922. He subsequently studied at University College London with both Karl Pearson and Charles Spearman. Holzinger became interested in intelligence testing through his work with Spearman.[3][4]

Academic career[edit]

Holzinger spent almost his entire academic career at the University of Chicago, teaching in the Department of Education there for thirty-two years. He was elected vice president of the American Statistical Association in 1933 and president of the Psychometric Society in 1940. From 1949 until his death, he was co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Educational Psychology.[5]

Research[edit]

Holzinger is known for his research on the use of factor analysis to study human intelligence.[6] He developed the theory that human intelligence consists of three types of abilities, or factors. This theory has since become the basis of many contemporary hierarchical theories of intelligence.[7] He conducted much of his research as a member of the Unitary Traits Committee, which he and Edward Thorndike had established in 1931.[8][9] He also collaborated with Horatio Newman and Frank N. Freeman on an early, large-scale twin study that began in 1927. According to M. Susan Lindee, this study "...was extraordinary in its depth and complexity".[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Holzinger, Karl J. (Karl John), 1892-1954". Library of Congress Name Authority File. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  2. ^ Annual Register. University of Chicago. 1921. p. 46. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  3. ^ Wijsen, Lisa D.; Borsboom, Denny; Cabaço, Tiago; Heiser, Willem J. (17 January 2019). "An Academic Genealogy of Psychometric Society Presidents". Psychometrika. 84 (2): 562–588. doi:10.1007/s11336-018-09651-4. PMC 6502785. PMID 30656499.
  4. ^ Bellhouse, David R. (April 2009). "Karl Pearson's Influence in the United States". International Statistical Review. 77 (1): 51–63. doi:10.1111/j.1751-5823.2009.00066.x. S2CID 144182572.
  5. ^ Harman, Harry H. (June 1954). "Karl John Holzinger". Psychometrika. 19 (2): 95–96. doi:10.1007/BF02289158. S2CID 123490704.
  6. ^ Cudeck, Robert; Jöreskog, K. G.; Sörbom, Dag; Toit, Stephen Du (2001). Structural Equation Modeling: Present and Future : a Festschrift in Honor of Karl Jöreskog. Scientific Software International. p. 25. ISBN 9780894980497.
  7. ^ "Hierarchical theory of intelligence". APA Dictionary of Psychology. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  8. ^ Carroll, John B.; B, Carroll John (1993). Human Cognitive Abilities: A Survey of Factor-Analytic Studies. Cambridge University Press. p. 41. ISBN 9780521387125.
  9. ^ Sternberg, Robert J. (1982). Handbook of Human Intelligence. CUP Archive. p. 47. ISBN 9780521296878.
  10. ^ Lindee, M. Susan (2005). Moments of Truth in Genetic Medicine. JHU Press. p. 127. ISBN 9780801881756.