Psychometric Theory— 25 Years Ago and Now

TLDR: A detailed account of major developments in psychometrics over the last 25 years, as seen through my eyes and evaluated from my particular points of view, can be found in this article.

Abstract: This is an account of major de­ velopments in psychometrics dur­ ing the last 25 years, as seen through my eyes and evaluated from my particular points of view. Although I will make some guesses regarding future developments, I mainly want to bring the story up to date. I picked the year 1950 as a starting point for two reasons —one impor­ tant to many researchers in psy­ chology and education and one per­ sonal. The important reason is that 1950 was in the center of an Au­ gustan age for the development of psychometrics, extending from 1940 to 1960 —a period of intense activ­ ity and important developments, the likes of which may not come again nor even be needed again. The per­ sonal reason was that in 1950, as a graduate student at the University of Chicago, I was being introduced to the field of psychometrics under the tutelage of William Stephenson and Leon Thurstone.