Constructing Czechoslovakia : The meaning of "intelligence" in Czechoslovak educational discourse, 1900-1939

Before World War II, Czechoslovakia went through its constituting process, including the development of an educational system. We made an analysis of Czechoslovak discussions about educational uses of intelligence tests from a discourse-theoretic and social constructionist perspective. In particular, we examined which connotations became associated with the concept “intelligence” in educational scientific publications about possible educational uses of the newly introduced tests in the years 1900–1939. Results substantiate the inextricable entwining of the meaning of “intelligence” with the unique characteristics of the historical situation in Czechoslovakia before World War II.