Biometrics and Psychometrics: Origins, Commonalities and Differences

Abstract

Starting with the common origins of biometrics and psychometrics at the beginning of the twentieth century, the paper compares and contrasts subsequent developments, informed by the author's 35 years at Rothamsted Experimental Station followed by a period with the data theory group in Leiden and thereafter. Although the methods used by biometricians and psychometricians have much in common, there are important differences arising from the different fields of study. Similar differences arise wherever data are generated and may be regarded as a major driving force in the development of statistical ideas.

Honoring the Lion: A Festschrift for Jan de Leeuw

“…He is one of the key figures in early scaling developments and has a 60-year experience in the field of biometrics, (he started at Rothamsted in 1956 under Frank Yates). In his contribution (Gower 2016) he elaborates on the interaction between biometrics and psychometrics in relation to linear algebra and optimization, and puts Jan's methodological efforts into this context.…”