Main Entry: Bi·net age

Pronunciation: \bē-ˈnā-, bi-\

Function: noun

: mental age as determined by the Binet-Simon scale

Bi·net \bē-nā\ , Alfred (1857–1911), French psychologist, and Si·mon \sē-mōⁿ\ , Théodore (1873–1961), French physician. Binet was the founder of French experimental psychology. His major contribution to psychology was his introduction of new ways of measuring intelligence. In 1905 Binet and Théodore Simon developed for the French Ministry of Education the first test for measuring intelligence. Originally the test was designed for detecting mentally retarded children. The test now honors the names of both men, although the mental age of a person, as determined by the test, is called simply the Binet age. Revised in 1908, the Binet-Simon scale was widely administered and much imitated.