Final answer:
Sir Francis Galton developed the first broad test of intelligence, marking the inception of psychometric testing. Although later refined by others, his work introduced the statistical study of individual differences and intelligence, laying the foundation for future testing methods.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sir Francis Galton's contribution to the history of psychometric testing is of significant importance. In the late 19th century, Galton developed the groundwork for the first broad test of intelligence, pioneering the use of statistical methods to study human differences and intellectual abilities. His work laid the foundation for the concept of intelligence testing. However, it was Alfred Binet and Louis Terman who further developed these tests into more reliable and standardized formats.
Binet was tasked by the French government to develop an intelligence test for children, which led to the creation of the Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale. Terman, at Stanford, standardized the administration and created the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. While Galton's initial tests weren't as refined, his emphasis on measurement and quantitative analysis was instrumental in shaping the field of psychometric testing, influencing further development by subsequent psychologists such as Binet and Terman.