Biography

Burt, who was born in Westminster, London, obtained a degree in classical honours moderations in 1904 and one in "Literae Humanores" in 1906 from Jesus College, Oxford. He then began his work as a psychologist, being a supporter of Francis Galton, who advocated hereditary-influenced intelligence.

In 1907 Burt worked on a national survey of the British people to assess their intelligence, and this set the basis for his life's work. By 1913 he had developed his own ideas on Intelligence Quotient (IQ), and he became the first psychologist to the London County Council.

Burt's work reflected and continued to develop the ideas of William Lewis Stern and of Alfred Binet, the French psychologist who instigated the idea of IQ.

Burt was a pioneer who was largely responsible for establishing educational psychology in Britain. After his death, anomalies were found in his work, which dented his reputation. 

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