Raymond Cattell

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Lore & Background

Raymond Cattell was born on 20 March 1905 in Hill Top, West Bromwich, a small town in England near Birmingham where his father's family was involved in inventing new parts for engines, automobiles and other machines. When Cattell was about five years old, his family moved to Torquay, Devon, where he grew up with strong interests in science and spent a lot of time sailing around the coastline. In 1921, he was awarded a scholarship to study chemistry at King's College, London, where he obtained a BSc (Hons) degree with 1st-class honors at age 19 years. While studying, he attended public lectures—Bertrand Russell, H. G. Wells, Julian Huxley, and George Bernard Shaw being his favorite speakers (the last, in a meeting at King's College, converted me to vegetarianism—for almost two years!). He decided to change his field and pursue a PhD in psychology at King's College, London, which he received in 1929. His PhD advisor was Francis Aveling, D.D., D.Sc., PhD, D.Litt., who was also President of the British Psychological Society from 1926 until 1929. In 1939, Cattell was honored for his outstanding contributions to psychological research with conferral of the prestigious higher doctorate. Cattell was an early proponent of using factor analytic methods instead of what he called 'subjective verbal theorizing' to explore empirically the basic dimensions of personality, motivation, and cognitive abilities. One of the results of his application of factor analysis was his discovery of 16 separate primary trait factors within the normal personality sphere (based on the trait lexicon). He called these factors 'source traits'. This theory of personality factors and the self-report instrument used to measure them are known respectively as the 16 personality factor model and the 16PF Questionnaire (16PF). He was the first to propose a hierarchical, multi-level model of personality with the many basic primary factors at the first level and the fewer, broader, 'second-order' factors at a higher stratum of personality organization. These 'global trait' constructs are the precursors of the currently popular Big Five (FFM) model of personality. Cattell's research led to further advances, such as distinguishing between state and trait measures (e.g., state-trait anxiety). In the cognitive abilities domain, Cattell is best known for the distinction between fluid and crystallized intelligence. He distinguished between the abstract, adaptive, biologically-influenced cognitive abilities that he called 'fluid intelligence' and the applied, experience-based and learning-enhanced ability that he called 'crystallized intelligence.' As a foundation for this distinction, Cattell developed the investment-model of ability, arguing that crystallized ability emerged from the investment of fluid ability in a particular topic of knowledge. He contributed to cognitive epidemiology with his theory that crystallized knowledge, while more applied, could be maintained or even increase after fluid ability begins to decline with age, a concept used in the National Adult Reading Test (NART). Cattell constructed a number of ability tests, including the Comprehensive Ability Battery (CAB) that provides measures of 20 primary abilities, and the Culture Fair Intelligence Test (CFIT) which was designed to provide a completely non-verbal measure of intelligence like that now seen in the Raven's. The Culture Fair Intelligence Scales were intended to minimize the influence of cultural or educational background on the results of intelligence tests. In regard to statistical methodology, in 1960 Cattell founded the Society of Multivariate Experimental Psychology (SMEP), and its journal Multivariate Behavioral Research. He was an early and frequent user of factor analysis. Cattell also developed new factor analytic techniques, for example, by inventing the scree test, which uses the curve of latent roots to judge the optimal number of factors to extract. He also developed a new factor analysis rotation procedure—the 'Procrustes' or non-orthogonal rotation, designed to let the data itself determine the best location of factors, rather than requiring orthogonal factors. Additional contributions include the Coefficient of Profile Similarity; P-technique factor analysis based on repeated measurements of a single individual; dR-technique factor analysis for elucidating change dimensions; the Taxonome program for ascertaining the number and contents of clusters in a data set; the Rotoplot program for attaining maximum simple structure factor pattern solutions. As well, he put forward the Dynamic Calculus for assessing interests and motivation, the Basic Data Relations Box, the group syntality construct ('personality' of a group), the triadic theory of cognitive abilities, the Ability Dimension Analysis Chart (ADAC), and Multiple Abstract Variance Analysis (MAVA), with 'specification equations' to embody genetic and environmental variables and their interactions.

Reader's Guide

Raymond Cattell's significance lies in his systematic, empirical approach to understanding psychological structure through multivariate methods. His 16-factor model of personality provided a detailed alternative to simpler models, and his hierarchical view influenced later trait theories, including the Big Five. The distinction between fluid and crystallized intelligence remains foundational in cognitive psychology and neuropsychology, informing research on aging and intelligence testing. His development of the Culture Fair Intelligence Test aimed to reduce cultural bias in assessment. Cattell's methodological innovations—such as the scree test, Procrustes rotation, and P-technique factor analysis—advanced the statistical toolkit for psychology. He authored or co-authored almost 60 scholarly books, more than 500 research articles, and over 30 standardized psychometric tests, questionnaires, and rating scales. According to a widely cited ranking, he was the 16th most eminent, 7th most cited in the scientific journal literature, and among the most productive psychologists of the 20th century. His work continues to be referenced in personality, intelligence, and psychometric research.

Did You Know?

• Cattell was awarded a scholarship to study chemistry at King's College, London, and obtained a BSc (Hons) with 1st-class honors at age 19.
• He attended public lectures by Bertrand Russell, H. G. Wells, Julian Huxley, and George Bernard Shaw, with Shaw converting him to vegetarianism for almost two years.
• Cattell invented the scree test, which uses the curve of latent roots to judge the optimal number of factors to extract in factor analysis.
• He founded the Society of Multivariate Experimental Psychology (SMEP) and its journal Multivariate Behavioral Research in 1960.
• Cattell was the 16th most eminent, 7th most cited in the scientific journal literature, and among the most productive psychologists of the 20th century according to a widely cited ranking.