CHARLES E. SPEARMAN (1863–1945) I FAKTORSKA ANALIZA POSLE 110 GODINA
CHARLES E. SPEARMAN (1863–1945) AND FACTOR ANALYSIS 110 YEARS AFTER

Summary/Abstract: In 2014, it will be 110 years since Charles Edward Spearman (1863–1945), at the time still a middle-aged student, published two articles. Spearman’s articles from 1904 are essential in understanding the history of modern psychology. These works represent a milestone in the emergence and development of the first empirically based dimensional theory in the psychology of individual differences. However, apart from the historical significance, given their theoretical and methodological importance, those articles are relevant nowadays as they used to be more that 100 years ago. The first paper created the basis of one still dominant measurement model in modern psychology while the other one established the foundation of quantitative, dimensional theories of personality or individuality. Together, these papers represent a decisive contribution to modern psychology at all levels of scientific knowledge – substantive, mathematical and statistical. One of Spearman’s key contributions to modern psychology is factor analysis. In fact, it is a family of more or less different multivariate data modelling procedures in the study of structures and processes. Almost all important psychological theories in the XXth century concerning the structure and development of abilities, personality traits, motivation, emotions and emotional states, are based on factor analysis. Because of that, almost all contemporary research and practice is based not only on the Spearman’s model of cognitive abilities, but also on his initial contribution to the development of factor analysis as a multivariate statistical and measurement model.

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