Question 1

Which of the following words is most likely to be considered "traumatic" on a word association test?

Accepted Answer

The word "mother" is the most likely to trigger traumatic associations due to the psychological significance and emotional attachment associated with the relationship between a person and their mother.

Question 2

The strongest psychometric aspect of the Rorschach is its

Accepted Answer

The Rorschach has been found to have strong inter-rater reliability with respect to scoring categories, meaning that different raters tend to agree on what score to assign to a given response. However, the test has been criticized for its low inter-rater reliability with respect to interpretations, meaning that different raters may come up with vastly different interpretations of the same response. The other options are not the strongest psychometric aspect of the Rorschach.

Question 3

The use of words as projective stimuli is based on which assumption?

Accepted Answer

The use of words as projective stimuli is based on the assumption that word associations are the result of the individual's life experiences and personality. This means that the way a person responds to a particular word can reveal something about their psychological state or personality traits. Word associations are not chance happenings, nor are they inherently emotionally charged, and they do not necessarily exhibit high test-retest reliability.

Question 4

When interpretations about personality are derived from analysis of figure drawings

Accepted Answer

Interpretations about personality should not be derived from analysis of figure drawings as there is no scientific evidence to support their validity. The artistic skill of the drawer and the time taken to complete the drawing are not reliable indicators of personality traits. Additionally, nationally representative standardization samples are not frequently used in these types of assessments.

Question 5

In evaluating a child who is described by a referral source as "fidgety,restless,and impulsive," what type of drawing on the Machover Draw-A-Person Test could that child reasonably be expected to produce?

Accepted Answer

Children who are described as fidgety, restless, and impulsive often have high energy levels and a need to move. This may be reflected in their drawing by creating a large person that extends beyond the borders of the page, suggesting a sense of energy and movement.

Question 6

Critics have attacked projective tests for all of the reasons listed below EXCEPT which of these?

Accepted Answer

Projective tests, such as the Rorschach Inkblot Test or the Thematic Apperception Test, have been criticized for various reasons, including the assumptions they make about personality, the impact of situational variables on results, and their generally low reliability. However, difficulties in administering these tests are not commonly cited as a major concern. The main criticisms focus on their theoretical underpinnings, interpretation variability, and reliability rather than on the practical aspects of administration.

Question 7

Different testtakers may evidence similarities in response themes to the same projective stimuli.This fact has been used by critics of projective techniques to support which argument?

Accepted Answer

The critics argue that if different test-takers show similar responses to projective stimuli, it suggests that the stimuli are not as ambiguous as proponents of projective techniques claim. This challenges the foundational principle of projective tests, which is that the ambiguity of the stimuli allows for the projection of the test-taker's unconscious thoughts and feelings.

Question 8

Which statement is TRUE regarding projective techniques in general?

Accepted Answer

While projective techniques are widely used, there is ongoing debate over their validity and reliability. Many clinicians continue to use them based on clinical intuition and subjective judgment rather than empirical evidence. While there may be some correlation between ambiguous stimuli and revealment of personality traits, this is not a universally accepted principle. There is no evidence to support choice C or D.

Question 9

Murstein questioned which of the following assumptions concerning projective methods?

Accepted Answer

All three assumptions (A, B, and C) are questioned by Murstein. He suggested that the relationship between behavior on projective tests and behavior in social situations is uncertain, the assumption of unawareness is not always true, and the relationship between ambiguity and disclosure is not straightforward.

Question 10

The assumption that individuals will supply structure to unstructured stimuli in a manner consistent with their own conscious and unconscious concerns underlies the

Accepted Answer

The assumption described in the question is known as the projective hypothesis, making choice C the correct answer. It suggests that when presented with ambiguous or unstructured stimuli, individuals will project their own personality, beliefs, and concerns onto the stimuli and create meaning from them. The other choices (projectile, subjective, and Skinnerian hypotheses) are not related to this specific assumption.

Question 11

On the Machover Draw-A-Person Test,a testtaker draws a person with extremely large ears.One hypothesis the test user might reasonably entertain on the basis of this drawing is that this testtaker is MOST probably

Accepted Answer

According to the Machover Draw-A-Person Test, drawing unusually large ears could be an indication of paranoia. The test-taker may perceive the world as a threatening environment and may therefore have enlarged the ears to be more vigilant in listening for potential threats. This response is consistent with characteristics of paranoia. Therefore, choice C is the most probable answer. The other options, impulsive, depressed, and anxious, are not directly related to drawing large ears on this test.

Question 12

Figure-drawing tests

Accepted Answer

Figure-drawing tests may be affected by the drawing ability of the test taker, as their ability to accurately depict figures may impact their responses and interpretations of the drawings presented. While they do not typically involve verbalization by the respondent and may not have a formal scoring system, the influence of drawing ability on test results is a significant factor to consider.

Question 13

A principle underlying interpretation of TAT responses is

Accepted Answer

The principle underlying interpretation of TAT responses is that assessees will identify with someone in the story and indirectly express their own needs. This is based on the idea that people often project their own experiences, emotions, and desires onto others, including fictional characters. Therefore, the protagonist in the story may reflect certain aspects of the assessees' personality, but not necessarily their exact same personality type. The TAT is not primarily meant to assess creativity, although that may be a secondary aspect to some extent.

Question 14

Scoring of Rorschach responses based on the Comprehensive System is probably

Accepted Answer

The Comprehensive System is considered to be more psychometrically sound than other scoring systems for the Rorschach. It takes into account multiple variables and has a well-established normative database.

Question 15

Of the following persons,which one served as the curator of the Hermann Rorschach Museum and Archives in Bern,Switzerland?

Accepted Answer

None of the listed individuals served as the curator of the Hermann Rorschach Museum and Archives in Bern, Switzerland.

Question 16

How is the TAT similar to the Rorschach?

Accepted Answer

Both the TAT and the Rorschach rely on the interpretation of ambiguous stimuli by the examiner. Therefore, inter-rater reliability based on coding categories is high for both tests. The other options do not accurately describe similarities between the two tests.

Question 17

Sentence completion tests

Accepted Answer

Sentence completion tests often have a high degree of face validity because the items appear directly related to what the test purports to measure, making it clear to participants how their responses relate to the topic of interest.

Question 18

The Comprehensive System for interpreting the Rorschach was developed

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Comprehensive System for interpreting the Rorschach...

Question 19

Scoring criteria for the Rorschach include

Accepted Answer

The Rorschach test scoring criteria include content, determinants, form, location, and popularity, which are used to analyze the responses given by individuals to the inkblot images.

Question 20

When interpreting a person's response to an inkblot test,it is important to interpret

Accepted Answer

When interpreting a person's response to an inkblot test, it is important to consider both what the individual perceives in the blot and how they perceive it. This allows for a more accurate interpretation of the individual's personality and thought processes. It is not necessary to consider whether the test user would have responded in the same way, as this does not provide insight into the individual being tested.

Quiz 13: Personality Assessment Methods