PLAN FOR OBTAINING AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD TECH- 

 NIQUE IN PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 



R. RUGGLES GATES 



University of London, England 



At the meeting of the I. F. E. 0. at Farnham, Dorset, in September 1930, a 

 discussion took place on the Standardization of Human Measurements, with 

 Sir Arthur Keith in the chair. Miss M. L. Tildesley read a paper on the 

 subject, which was the basis for discussion of the physical measurements. 

 Miss B. Schieffelin (Mrs. Bosanquet) introduced a similar discussion on the 

 standardization of mental measurement. At the final meeting it was 

 recommended to the I. F. E. O. that a provisional Committee be formed to 

 bring about cooperation between eugenists and anthropologists, and also a 

 committee of psychological experts and psychiatrists. 



Since then, a committee formed by the Royal Anthropological Institute 

 has drawn up proposals for a scheme by which the international standardi- 

 zation of anthropological techniques might be achieved. These were 

 printed in Man (No. 193) and accepted as preliminary proposals by the 

 Council of the Institute. Copies will be circulated at the meeting, together 

 with a covering letter. It is suggested that these tentative proposals might 

 be circulated by translation or otherwise, to the anthropologists in the 

 various countries interested. Each country would then form a committee 

 to work out an agreed scheme for anthropometric measurements. It was 

 decided at the Farnham meeting that the measurements required for 

 purposes of eugenic investigation did not differ in any way from those 

 needed for anthropological purposes. The Royal Anthropological Institute 

 is proceeding with steps to obtain agreement among British workers on the 

 technique to be adopted for the various types of measurement, including 

 anthropometric, psychological and blood groups. If anthropologists in 

 each country will take similar steps, the various resulting programs drawn 

 up may ultimately serve as the basis for securing international agreement. 

 The formulation of proposals for the latter purpose would naturally come 

 later. The first action suggested is the formation of a preliminary com- 

 mittee with a representative from each country, who would undertake to 

 form a committee for that country which would discuss and prepare a 

 scheme representing their concerted opinion regarding the best methods 

 to be adopted. 



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