The Vectors of Mind

work by Thurstone

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July 14, 2026

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The Vectors of Mind (1935) is a significant work by American psychologist L. L. Thurstone. In this book, Thurstone introduced his method of factor analysis to understand the correlations found in psychological test results. He proposed that human intelligence is not a single general factor, but rather composed of seven "primary mental abilities." These include verbal comprehension, verbal fluency, number facility, spatial visualization, inductive reasoning, memory, and perceptual speed. Thurstone's work challenged prevailing theories and contributed to the development of psychometrics, the science of measuring mental functions.12

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L. L. Thurstone
His principal work, The Vectors of Mind (1935), presented Thurstone’s method of factor analysis to explain correlations between results in psychological tests. Thurstone rejected the idea that any one factor had more general application than others and evaluated all factors influencing performance on a given test at one…
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His principal work, The Vectors of Mind (1935), presented Thurstone’s method of factor analysis to explain correlations between results in psychological tests. Thurstone rejected the idea that any one factor had more general application than others and evaluated all factors influencing performance on a given test at one…
Read More