Week 4: Projective Tests Flashcards
What are projective tests?
Tests which require client’s to respond to ambiguous stimuli
Based on psychoanalytic theory
What are client responses meant to reflect from projective tests?
Responses are meant to reflect a projection of the client’s internal state or motivations onto the ambiguous stimuli
What does the projective hypothesis posit?
That when a person tries to make sense of ambiguous stimuli, they will reflect their needs, feelings, experiences, thoughts and past conditioning.
The stimulus is neutral, it is the person’s projection which is highly subjective.
Why are projective tests controversial?
They are subjective and ‘unscientific’ in nature.
Why are there concerns regarding the reliability and validity of projective tests?
They lack reliability and validity statistics
Which context are projective tests most commonly used internationally?
They are commonly used in clinical practice internationally
X out of the 10 most commonly used testing instruments in the US are projective test.
5
What is the Holtzman test?
An inkblot test.
Similar to the Rorschach test.
Different as participants can only provide 1 answer for each image.
Has standardised administration and scoring system with 45 cards scored on 22 dimensions.
Test validity is poor due to the qualitative nature of the test and performance depends on the experience of the assessor.
What is the TAT?
Thematic Apperception Test
Morgan & Murray, 1935
Also known as “Picture Interpretation Technique”
Participants are shown images with scenes of ambiguous characters and are asked to describe the story they see.
Due to the poor interpretation and scoring system and poor standardisation of administration, the test is widely considered psychometrically unsound.
What is the Animal Metaphor test?
Developed by Levis, 1987
Participants have to draw two animals, describe the characteristics of each and then develop a dialogue between them.
What is Graphology?
The study of a person’s handwriting in order to reveal personality traits
What is the DAP Test?
Draw-a-person Test
Goodenough, 1926
Used with children and adolescents.
Participants are asked to draw a human figure, which is not a stick figure.
The image is then assessed based on set criteria.
The DAP test was developed into the human figure drawing test in 1980s by Koppitz.
What is Kinetic Family Drawing?
A test used for children and adolescents.
Developed by Burns & Kaufman, 1970
Participants are asked to draw their family, including themselves, doing any sort of activity.
What are Picture Arrangement Tests?
Developed by Wechsler in 1949
Participants are given a series of images to rearrange to create a meaningful storyline.
What are Word Association Tests?
Developed by Jung, 1910
Participants are asked to state the first word that comes into their mind in relation to a word given by the assessor.
