Transcript Yr-11 Rorschach test - ITL

Personality tests,
inventories &
projective measures
Chapter 12
Grivas, J., & Carter, L. (2009). Psychology for the VCE
student Unit 1 & 2. 5th ed. John Wiley & Sons, Qld
Brainstorm
Why do Psychologists measure Personality?
Why measure personality?
 Psychologists measure personality for a variety of reasons. For example:
o Organisational Psychologists: suitability for a particular position in the
workplace.
o Educational Psychologists: determining whether a student is suitably
placed in either a mainstream school or a special school, used with IQ tests.
o Clinical Psychologists: assess personality to assist in the diagnosis of a
mental illness and to monitor progress during treatment.
o Researchers may use personality assessments for a research study on a
topic of interest or for test development purposes
•
In most cases, personality tests are used for diagnostic purposes.
Psychologists use a range of measurement devices, from tests through to
interviews and observations.
Personality tests
 A personality test is an
assessment device used to
evaluate or measure aspects of
personality, such as factors
(dimensions) and specific
traits.
 There are two types of
personality tests:
o Objective tests/Personality
inventories
o Projective tests
Personality inventories
 A personality inventory is a self-report, ‘paper and pencil’ or
online test
 Inventories measure personality types, traits and
dimensions.
 Inventories are objective, as responses are not interpreted
but assessed against the codes in the test manual.
 By comparing the individual's response to average scores for
a large, representative sample of previously tested
individuals (that is, norms), a personality profile can be
compiled.
Strengths & limitations of
objective tests
Strengths
 Quick to administer
 Can be used with large groups in
a short period of time
 Objective, not based on test
administers interpretation,
therefore they have greater
reliability
 Can be computer-based, easy to
compare against ‘average’
population
 Can measure a single trait, type
or dimension simultaneously
Limitations
 Self-report
 People may manipulate their
responses based on the
personality they want to
portray
 Respondent can only give one
of a range of responses
 No opportunity to clarify or
explain what they meant by
their response
 Susceptible to ‘cultural bias’
Projective tests
 Projective tests follow the Psychodynamic
Perspective as it assumes that a person’s
unconscious thoughts project onto a visual
stimulus.
 Respondent’s answers are not restricted
 Aspects of personality are revealed in the
interpretation.
 Projective tests can provide much more
detailed information than objective tests.
The Rorschach Test
 Developed by Herman
Rorschach in 1921 to identify
individuals with mental health
problems.
 The Rorschach Inkblot test
consists of 10 visual stimulus
cards, some coloured and
some black and white.
 They are administered
individually and test-takers are
not given any clues regarding
the type of response expected.
The Rorschach Test
 Scoring the responses involves
making subjective (personal)
interpretations based on assessment
criteria.
 The test administrator considers:
•
•
•
•
•
What did the test-taker focus on?
What may have determined the
response?
What the test-taker's perception
actually was?
How often, compared to norms, that
response occurs?
To what extent the response
matched the features of the inkblot?
Ethics
 We are going to engage with material which assesses
personality
 We are not going to make interpretations of individual’s
responses
 We are looking at test methodology
 You have the right to withdraw at any time
Activity: Rorschach Testing
 We are going to create our
own inkblot visual stimuli.
 You will need to:
• Place a small amount of paint
•
•
on your page about ¼ of the
way down, on one side of the
page.
With your eyes closed, use
the paddle pop stick on your
table to create a design.
Then fold your page in half.
 Once opened, you have
created your inkblot.
Activity: Rorschach Testing
 Keep in mind that your paint will
still be wet.
 Leave your tests on your desk.
 Swap tables, take a pen only
 Move around the table and
interpret the visual stimuli by
writing the first thing that comes
to mind when you see the image.
 Record your response in the
table provided
Discussion of results
 Was there a common response
to your inkblot stimuli?
 Why do you think it was
important to ask participants
not to think about their
responses to the stimuli?
 What are some advantages of
the Rorschach inkblot test?
 What are some potential
limitations of the Rorschach
inkblot test?
Strengths and limitations of
projective tests
Strengths
 No right or wrong answer
 Test-takers are less likely to be
able manipulate responses
 Responses are not restricted,
they can provide as much
information as they wish
 Provides rich qualitative data
about a person, in their own
words
 Results can be used by
Psychologists to direct their
therapy.
Limitations
 Responses are interpreted by test




administrator, could be prone to
inaccuracies
Different Psychologists may
interpret responses differently to
one another, low reliability
Projective tests may not actually be
assessing underlying personality,
Assumes that there is an
unconscious and that this
determines the underlying themes
of personality
Have to be administered
individually, time consuming and
expensive
Reflection
 If you were going to have your personality measured,
which type of test would you prefer to be assessed by?
 Take into account the strengths and limitations of
objective and projective tests.