Anne Anastasi
Anne Anastasi (December 19, 1908 – May 4, 2001) was an American psychologist best known for her pioneering development of psychometrics. Her generative work, Psychological Testing, remains a classic text in which she drew attention to the individual being tested and therefore to the responsibilities of the testers. She called for them to go beyond test scores, to search the assessed individual's history to help them to better understand their own results and themselves.
Anne Anastasi | |
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Anne Anastasi, from the 1928 yearbook of Barnard College | |
| Born | December 19, 1908 New York City, New York |
| Died | May 4, 2001 (aged 92) New York City, New York |
| Awards | APA Career Achievement Award for Distinguished Psychological Contributions to Education (1984) APF's Gold Medal (1984) National Medal of Science (1987) James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award (1992) APA Award for Lifetime Contributions to Psychology (1994) |
| Academic background | |
| Education | Barnard College (BA, 1928) Columbia University (PhD, 1929) |
| Academic advisors | Harry L. Hollingworth |
| Influences | Charles Spearman |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Psychologist |
| Sub-discipline | Psychometrics |
| Institutions |
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| Notable works | Psychological Testing |
| 1972 American Psychological Association President | |
| Preceded by | Kenneth B. Clark |
| Succeeded by | Leona E. Tyler |
Known as the test guru, Anastasi focused on what she believed to be the appropriate use of psychometric tests. As stated in an obituary, "She made major conceptual contributions to the understanding of the manner in which psychological development is influenced by environmental and experiential factors. Her writings have provided incisive commentary on test construction and the proper application of psychological tests." According to Anastasi, such tests only revealed what the test-taker knows at the time; they did not explain test scores. In addition, any psychometric measurement must take into account that aptitude is context-dependent. Anastasi stressed the importance of the role of the tester to correctly select, conduct, and evaluate tests.
She was president of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1972, the third ever woman to be elected. In 1984, she was given the American Psychological Foundation's gold medal. In 1987, she was awarded the National Medal of Science.