An Introduction to the Theory of Mental and Social Measurements

work by Thorndike

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June 29, 2026

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Edward L. Thorndike's An Introduction to the Theory of Mental and Social Measurements (1904) emphasized the use of statistics in social science research. This work was influential in applying psychology to education, particularly in subjects like arithmetic, reading, and writing. Thorndike's research focused on animal behavior and the learning process, leading to his theory of connectionism. This theory posits that behavioral responses are formed through trial and error, strengthening neural connections between stimuli and satisfying responses. His work laid the groundwork for behaviorist experimentation by stressing measurement and quantitative data analysis.1

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Edward L. Thorndike
…research, chiefly through his handbook, An Introduction to the Theory of Mental and Social Measurements (1904). Other important works in the early part of his career were The Principles of Teaching Based on Psychology (1906), Education: A First Book (1912), and Educational Psychology, 3 vol. (1913–14; 2nd ed., 1921). These…
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…research, chiefly through his handbook, An Introduction to the Theory of Mental and Social Measurements (1904). Other important works in the early part of his career were The Principles of Teaching Based on Psychology (1906), Education: A First Book (1912), and Educational Psychology, 3 vol. (1913–14; 2nd ed., 1921). These…
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