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Although Alfred Binet's early research is often portrayed as a series of failures, his early career period included several productive lines of work that eventually had a positive influence on his seminal contributions to the study and assessment of intelligence. He experimented with Galton and Cattell's psychophysical tests of reaction times and sensory acuity, conducted tests of color perception, and explored language development, memory and suggestibility, and extraordinary abilities and accomplishments. This work led to his specialization in Individual Psychology. By the early part of the twentieth century, French national laws had begun mandating public school education for all children, including children with mental disabilities, who had previously been excluded entirely or permitted to drop out early from schooling. In 1904, officials of the French government asked Binet to join a distinguished commission of experts who could provide insight and leadership regarding the education of these special cases. Binet's Individual Psychology research, his publication record, and his particular experience collaborating with Théodore Simon in the study of institutionalized children, made him uniquely qualified for this undertaking, and he assumed a leadership role on the project. This work led to the development of the Binet-Simon Scale, arguably the first intelligence test used in educational settings. The impact of this scale was immense, as it became the basis for a great deal of research on intelligence, both in Europe and North America.

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1562-0_11

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