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(CANADIAN WWI Psychological Testing Guide) BRIGHAM, Carl. Guide to the Princeton Condensed Scale: Compiled from "The Measurement of Intelligence" (L.M.Terman), and "A Revision of the Binet-Simon System" (F. Kuhlmann), with corrections and additional tests by C.C. Brigham. NP [Princeton, NJ?], [circa 1917].
(WITH): twelve ‘Cards for Intelligence' (measuring 13cm x 20cm) in the original envelope.
From the library of Dr. Clarence B. Farrar, although they do not bear his ownership signature or his bookplate. In two volumes (first volume measuring 27.5cm x 21.5cm, second volume 30.5cm x 22.5cm), stiff paper covers, 97pp. and 42pp. The first volume is stapled with ‘Guide To The Princeton Condensed Scale' printed on the upper wrapper, the second volume is fastened by brass grommets. Both are mechanically- reproduced (mimeographed?) typescript on a type of onion-skin paper. Oddly the volume with the printed title, clearly the first volume, begins with Year VII, while the second volume covers from three months to Year VI. Both the volumes of the ‘Guide' are fine, the ‘Cards for Intelligence Scale' are somewhat nibbled at one end (as is the envelope) but are still quite nice.
This appears to be an unrecorded work by American psychologist and eugenicist Carl Brigham, who is perhaps best known from his development of what eventually became the SAT test. His work as a doctoral student at Princeton focused on the ‘variable factors in the Binet tests' and the work above indicates that Brigham was clearly working to develop his own scale for measuring intelligence, with the test titled ‘Princeton Condensed Scale'. This guide appears to be written for the use of the test examiners as it provides a detailed set of instructions and questions (from ‘age three months' to ‘Year XVIII'), and also provides information about scoring and procedure. The preliminary matter provides examiners with general information about the importance and ways of securing the attention of their test subject— the need for quiet and seclusion and not having other people present while testing, establishing rapport, and keeping the child engaged. In addition he addresses the practical questions of how to administer the test and record scores. The ways in which to ask the questions are fairly detailed and include ‘common mistakes', potential answers and scoring. In 1917 Brigham enlisted with the Military Hospital Commission in Ottawa, which provided care to returning soldiers. It was in this position that he met and worked with Dr. Clarence Farrar, the noted Canadian psychiatrist, who worked extensively with soldiers suffering from ‘shell-shock' and was instrumental in introducing the Binet-Simon test to Canada. It is quite possible that Brigham was already familiar with Farrar, who previously had been an Assistant Physician and lecturer in Abnormal Psychology at Princeton (1913), returning to Canada with the outbreak of WWI. From 1917-1923 Farrar served as Chief Psychiatrist with the Department of Soldiers' Civil Re-Establishment, which was created by the Canadian government to assist soldiers re-entering civilian life after the first World War. While Farrar was working with adults, it would seem that Brigham shared his work on the Princeton Condensed Scale with him. Farrar later went on to hold several other positions including the Medical Director of the Toronto Psychiatric Hospital and the Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Farrar also served as the editor of the American Journal of Psychiatry for 34 years. Farrar continued to follow Brigham's career; in 1932 he reviewed Brigham's work A Study of Error. A Summary and Evaluation of Methods Used in Six Years of Study of the Scholastic Aptitude Test of the College Entrance Examination Board for the International Congress. In his review, Farrar states in part: "It is a monumental work which clears the ground and points the way for the systematic cataloguing of errors, which as the author states in concluding this study, ‘should provide the basis needed for a genuine science of education.'"