PSYC 406 Two Projective Test

how projective test work

responses to ambiguous stimuli(telling stories about pictures, inkblots, and completing sentence stems) permits access to unconscious needs and conflicts

projective test assumptions

responses to ambiguous stimuli are determined by personality characteristics; reveal characteristics beneath surface(unaffected by context, social desirability); provide broad coverage of personality characteristics

advantages of projective tests

purpose of test disguised, less faking possible, provides info outside of awareness

history of inkblot

fill in from textbook

rorschach administration

free association phase: show ten cards (look at latency and hesitancy)
inquire phase: ask for more specific info and explanation

Rorschach scoring

informal: interpretation of content (ex. odd use of words, patterns)
formal: categories scored and interpreted (location, form, color, texture, movement

location in formal Rorschach scoring

what does the patient see within the inkblot, is it divided into subcategories, how much detail

form in formal Rorschach scoring

does their interpretation fit inkblot (reality testing)

color in formal Rorschach scoring

compare to black and white(may indicate depression)

texture in formal Rorschach scoring

if texture is described may indicate anxiety (ex. fuzzy)

movement in formal Rorschach scoring

projection of inner life

Rorschach norms problems

biased towards women and upper/middle SES, and a large number of false positives when used

Rorschach reliability

interrater: 88-97%
internal consistency: don't need because measuring many things
test-retest: .5-.77 (1 month), .74-.91 (1 year), .7-.87 (3 year)

Rorschach validity

.27-.28 (expected/accepted), but little evidence supporting many scoring categories

problems with Rorschach inkblot

norms, limited validity evidence, time intensive, outdated

thematic apperception test

a projective technique using pictures(6); subjects tell a story about each picture; implicit needs are projected into story content and personality emerges over multiple pictures

TAT assumptions

stimuli interpreted in accord with their personality and life experiences and patients id as "hero" of story

big three motives of TAT

achievement, power, affliliation

achievement motive

recurrent preference/desire for experiences of doing well and being successful (obtaining goals, overcoming adversity, performing well)

power motive

recurrent preference/desire for experiences having an impact on others (vigorous action, concern about status, position, or self-image)

affiliation motive

recurrent preference/desire to spend time with others (concern about acceptance, attempts to establish and maintain relationships)

TAT scoring

informal: themes, pattern, sequences
formal: score motives using manual

TAT norms

no good normative sample, meaning you can't interpret individual's scores

TAT reliability

interrater: 0.8-.9
internal consistency: .3-.4 b/c measuring entire personality(issue of standardization)
test-retest: r=.3, .61(with same story permission)

TAT validity

need for achievement predicts occupational success(r=.22)
need for power predicts the kind of career
need for affiliation predicts time engaged in social activities