Able Quote by Alfred Binet
“Our purpose is to be able to measure the intellectual capacity of a child who is brought to us in order to know whether he is normal or retarded. ... We do not attempt to establish or prepare a prognosis and we leave unanswered the question of whether this retardation is curable, or even improveable. We shall limit ourselves to ascertaining the truth in regard to his present mental state.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Development of Intelligence, Alfred Binet, 1905
The quote describes an early intelligence test aimed only at assessing a child's current mental abilities, not predicting future outcomes or treatment possibilities.
In simple terms: It measures a child's present intellect without forecasting future changes.
Key Takeaway
Focus on present assessment, not prognosis.
Themes
psychometrics
assessment
developmental psychology
Mood
clinical
analytical
Type
diagnostic
historical
When to use this quote
- educational evaluation
- clinical screening
- research data collection
Key Concepts
intelligence testing
diagnostic limitation
Questions to Reflect On
- How might we balance current assessment with future potential?
- What ethical concerns arise from labeling children?
A Different Perspective
It ignores potential for growth or intervention, limiting its usefulness.
![“I wish that one would be persuaded that psychological experiments, especially those on the complex functions, are not improved [by large studies]; the statistical method gives only mediocre results; some recent examples demonstrate that. The American authors, who love to do things big, often…” quote by Alfred Binet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8cd/alfred-binet-37082_american-author_i-wish-that-one-would-be-persuaded-that_712063.jpg)
