
What is the validity of the Rorschach test?
The results of a meta-analysis of Rorschach studies indicate that reliabilities in the order of .83 and higher and validity coefficients of .45 or .50 and higher can be expected for the Rorschach--when hypotheses supported by empirical or theoretical rationales are tested using reasonably powerful statistics.
Is an ink blot done in a Rorschach test?
To put it simply, the Rorschach is a projective psychological test that evaluates the answers of a patient to conclude their personality. Ironically, Rorschach did not create the inkblot test for personality testing. The test was developed to identify serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety.
What does a Rorschach test tell you?
What does the Rorschach test tell you? This test was designed to look for patterns of thought disorder in schizophrenia and has evolved to include other areas, like personality, emotional disorders, and intelligence. The Rorschach has been standardized using the Exner system and is effective in measuring depression, psychosis, and anxiety.
Can we trust the Rorschach test?
The test was trusted enough as a reliable and sensitive indicator of such problems that the negative finding convinced the team and the man was released. In spite of its detractors, the Rorschach continues to be used in a research context. What is a major criticism of the Rorschach inkblot test?

What is a Rorschach inkblot test and how is it used?
The Rorschach test is a projective psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists use this test to examine a person's personality characteristics and emotional functioning.
How Rorschach inkblot test measures the personality of a person?
Rorschach Test A widely used projective test, developed by Hermann Rorschach (1884–1922) and influenced by psychoanalytic thinking, especially the idea of free association. The test explores personality by examining the subject's responses to relatively unstructured stimuli: ten symmetrical ink-blots.
What does it mean if you don't see anything in ink blots?
Three-quarters of people report that the blots look like humans, meaning that if someone doesn't see at least one human figure, this could indicate an unusual response to social interaction.
How accurate is Rorschach test?
They studied 219 patients and reported a hit rate of 92%, sensitivity of 88%, and a specificity of 94%. These findings taken together confirm the validity of the Rorschach, but also highlight the importance of identifying the scoring system and population when evaluating the validity of the Rorschach.
What type of personality test is the Rorschach inkblot test?
projective methodRorschach test, also called Rorschach inkblot test, projective method of psychological testing in which a person is asked to describe what he or she sees in 10 inkblots, of which some are black or gray and others have patches of colour. The test was introduced in 1921 by Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach.
Which personality theory is associated with the use of projective tests such as the Rorschach test and the Thematic Apperception Test?
Psychoanalytic theories Projective tests, such as the Rorschach inkblot method, the thematic apperception test (TAT), the draw-a-person or draw-a-family test, and some sentence completion tests, are characterized by ambiguity in the test stimuli or test instructions.
What was the purpose of the first personality test?
Abstract. Objective personality testing began with Woodworth's Personal Data Sheet in 1917. That test was developed to identify soldiers prone to nervous breakdowns during enemy bombardment in World War I (WWI). Soon after, many competing personality tests were developed for use in industry.
Which type of personality assessment would be considered the most valid and reliable?
Trait-focused personality tests based on the Five-Factor theory of personality, on the other hand, have been widely accepted by personality test and psychology experts as a far more valid and reliable way to measure personality, especially in the workplace.
What is the Rorschach inkblot test?
The Rorschach Inkblot Test is a projective psychological test consisting of 10 inkblots printed on cards (five in black and white, five in color) created in 1921 with the publication of Psychodiagnostik by Hermann Rorschach. During the 1940s and 1950s, the test was synonymous with clinical psychology. Throughout much of the 20th century, the Rorschach inkblot test was a commonly used and interpreted psychological test. In surveys in 1947 (Louttit and Browne) and 1961 (Sundberg), for instance, it was the fourth and first, respectively, most frequently used psychological test.
How many inkblots did Rorschach use?
Rorschach reworked his manuscript to include only 10 of the 15 inkblots he most commonly used.
How many inkblots do you cycle through?
Once a person cycles through the 10 inkblots once and tells the psychologist what they saw in each inkblot, the psychologist will then take the person through each inkblot again, asking the person who is taking the test to help the psychologist see what they saw in their original responses.
What game did Hermann Rorschach play?
However, like most children of his time, he often played the popular game called Blotto ( Klecksographie ), which involved creating poem-like associations or playing charades with inkblots.
What scoring system was used in the 1970s?
The Rorschach Scoring Systems. Prior to the 1970s, there were five primary scoring systems for how people responded to the inkblots. They were dominated by two — the Beck and the Klopfer systems. Three other that were used less often were the Hertz, Piotrowski and the Rapaport-Schafer systems.
What is the Rorschach?
The Rorschach is, at its most basic level, a problem-solving task that provides a picture of the psychology of the person taking it, and some level of understanding the person’s past and future behavior. Imagination is involved most often in the embellishment of a response, but the basic process of the task has little to do with imagination or creativity.
How many scoring systems were there in the Rorschach?
The findings of Exner’s ground-breaking analysis were that there actually weren’t five scoring systems for the Rorschach. He concluded that the five systems differed so dramatically and significantly, it was as if five uniquely different Rorschach tests had been created. It was time to go back to the drawing board.
When was the Rorschach inkblot test created?
The Rorschach inkblot test was created in 1921 by Swiss psychoanalyst and psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach. The inspiration came for the test came 10 years before while he was writing his dissertation on hallucinations in people with schizophrenia. During his work with schizophrenic patients, he noticed that people with schizophrenia responded differently from those without while playing an inkblot charades game known as Blotto or Klecksographie.
What is the Rorschach test?
To put it simply, the Rorschach is a projective psychological test that evaluates the answers of a patient to conclude their personality. Ironically, Rorschach did not create the inkblot test for personality testing. The test was developed to identify serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety.
What did Rorschach use to score his responses?
His studies produced a personal system of scoring in which he classified responses using letters: "W" for those who had a response based on the whole inkblot; "D" for those who focused on smaller details of the inkblot; "F" for the form of the inkblot; and "C" for if the inkblot included color. This scoring system split into five different systems after Rorschach's death in 1922. These scoring systems included the popular Beck and Kopfler systems and the lesser-known Piotrowski, Hertz, and Rapaport-Schafer systems.
What scoring system did Rorschach use?
This scoring system split into five different systems after Rorschach's death in 1922. These scoring systems included the popular Beck and Kopfler systems and the lesser-known Piotrowski, Hertz, and Rapaport-Schafer systems. Source: pexels.com.
What is the purpose of inkblots?
When the test is administered to a patient, the patient's brain begins trying to identify any patterns in the inkblots. Each of the inkblots has a common shape that is identified by most patients. These common shapes are used to determine whether or not a patient is projecting their personalities onto the inkblots or not. After one round of all ten cards, the patient is typically brought through another round in which they are asked to explain more about the inkblots. This is when the personality of the patient tends to bleed into their interpretation of the cards.
Why is there room for error in the results of a test?
The biggest issue seen by those on the opposing side is that there is no specific system of measurement that works for every person tested. Everyone's interpretation of the test is unique, and because of this, there is room for error in the results of the test. This can be especially harmful if the test is being administered in a court of law or in another situation where accuracy is vital.
Why was the psych test developed?
The test was developed to identify serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. It became clear over time, however, that the test was more useful for identifying personality traits rather than mental illnesses, although the test can still produce these results. When the test is administered to a patient, ...
Why did Hermann Rorschach develop inkblots?
Therefore, perhaps inspired by his favorite childhood game and his studies of Sigmund Freud's dream symbolism, Hermann Rorschach developed a systematic approach to using inkblots as an assessment tool to evaluate cognition and personality and to diagnose certain psychological conditions , including schizophrenia.
What is the interpretation of the Rorschach test?
In addition to the official scores, the interpretation of the Rorschach test is also based on behaviors expressed during the actual test-taking time, consistent or unique themes in the responses, patterns across the scores, and extraordinary idiosyncratic perceptions.
How did Rorschach use his artistic skills?
Rather, Rorschach used his artistic skills to refine and enhance his final inkblots so that each contained carefully placed contours to suggest objects or specific images to most people.
What does the mind do when you ask the test taker to describe what they see in the inkblot?
Therefore, by asking the test taker to describe what they see in the inkblot, they are genuinely telling you about themselves and how they project meaning onto the real world.
What is the basic idea of a test taker?
The basic idea involves the test taker projecting their thoughts and feelings on what seems to be ambiguous and meaningless images, and the interpretation falls within the realm of the tester's judgment.
What is interpretative report?
Once every card has been shown and the psychologist correctly codes each response, an interpretative report is created based on the patient's scores. The report seeks to integrate the findings from across all reactions from the test.
Who invented the inkblot test?
The Rorschach Inkblot Test was developed in 1921 by a Swiss psychologist named Hermann Rorschach (pronounced “ROAR-shock”). The history states that one of Hermann's favorite games, when he was a child, was called Klecksography, which involved creating inkblots and creating stories or poems about them. He thoroughly enjoyed the game so much that his school friends nicknamed him Klecks, the German word for inkblot.
What is a Rorschach inkblot test?
The Rorschach test or the Rorschach inkblot technique is one of the most well-known psychodiagnostic personality tests, allowing to investigate a human being in detail and determining an individual’s psychological disorder. Each of us has seen at least one picture with blots, that potentially remind us of something.
What is the test of inkblot?
Since the answer determines the individual properties and inclinations of a particular person, which is what the test is really about. This test is also known as Inkblot Quiz. The person is asked to tell what he sees in each spot, what the stain reminds him of. The figure man sees does not depend on the spot (its form is as abstract as possible) but on the characteristics of their personality.
What does the inkblot remind you of?
Part of the inkblot reminds me of the shape of an animal (one or more), the face of an animal - bear, cat, dog, bat, beetle, etc. The animal is motionless (standing, lying, sitting, etc.) Part of the inkblot reminds me of a fantastic or mythological creature (s) - witch, devil, dragon, elf, goblin, etc.
When was the projective personality test invented?
This projective personality research method was created by Hermann Rorschach in 1921. The test reached its popularity in the 1960s.
Is the Rorschach test available online?
Nowadays, the Rorschach test is often presented in significantly simplified versions due to mass distribution in social networks, but even then, it is a powerful psychological tool despite the fact it was invented over a century ago. It is available online without registration on our website!
What is the Rorschach test?
The Rorschach test is a psychological personality test created by the Swiss Psychoanalyst Hermann Rorschach in 1921. The test features a wide variety of different abstract and symmetrical inkblots.
How does the Rorschach test work?
The Rorschach test works as follows: The psychologist shows specific symmetrical images to the test subject that resemble artistic inkblots – hence its other name, inkblot test. People see all kinds of things in these inkblots.
What is the most influential psychologic test?
Several years later, the Rorschach test gained traction and became one of the most influential psychologic tests of all time.
What are the determinants of the Rorschach test?
In this part, the psychologist has to consider the reasons why a person sees certain things. These determinants may be color, form, reflections, or shading. 4. Other factors.
How to pronounce Rorschach?
The most common way in English to pronounce Rorschach is like roar + shack. Since Hermann Rorschach was Swiss, the actual pronunciation would be German – so quite similar to the English one, but with the typical German ch at the end, which sounds more like a deep hissing sound.
Is the Rorschach test accurate?
The interpretation of a Rorschach test is a very complicated thing to do. You’ll get the most accurate results of a psychologist because of their wealth of knowledge and experience . But to understand yourself better, it’s also possible to interpret it on your own with a little help.
Did Rorschach die?
Although he was a well-esteemed psychologist, his book attracted little to no attention when it first appeared. Sadly, Rorschach died the following year of Psychodiagnostik ’s release. Several years later, the Rorschach test gained traction and became one of the most influential psychologic tests of all time.
What is the Rorschach inkblot test?
D012392. The Rorschach test is a psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists use this test to examine a person's personality characteristics ...
How many inkblots are there in the Rorschach test?
Below are the ten inkblots printed in Rorschach Test – Psychodiagnostic Plates, together with the most frequent responses for either the whole image or the most prominent details according to various authors.
What was the most widely used projective test in the 1960s?
In the 1960s, the Rorschach was the most widely used projective test. Although the Exner Scoring System (developed since the 1960s) claims to have addressed and often refuted many criticisms of the original testing system with an extensive body of research, some researchers continue to raise questions.
Why is the Rorschach test controversial?
The test is also controversial because of its common use in court-ordered evaluations. This controversy stems, in part, from the limitations of the Rorschach, with no additional data, in making official diagnoses from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-IV ). Irving B. Weiner (co-developer with John Exner of the Comprehensive system) has stated that the Rorschach "is a measure of personality functioning, and it provides information concerning aspects of personality structure and dynamics that make people the kind of people they are. Sometimes such information about personality characteristics is helpful in arriving at a differential diagnosis, if the alternative diagnoses being considered have been well conceptualized with respect to specific or defining personality characteristics". In the vast majority of cases, anyway, the Rorschach test wasn't singled out but used as one of several in a battery of tests, and despite the criticism of usage of the Rorschach in the courts, out of 8,000 cases in which forensic psychologists used Rorschach-based testimony, the appropriateness of the instrument was challenged only six times, and the testimony was ruled inadmissible in only one of those cases. One study has found that use of the test in courts has increased by three times in the decade between 1996 and 2005, compared to the previous fifty years. Others however have found that its usage by forensic psychologists has decreased.
How many psychologists use the Rorschach?
Forensic psychologists use the Rorschach 36% of the time. In custody cases, 23% of psychologists use the Rorschach to examine a child. Another survey found that 124 out of 161 (77%) of clinical psychologists engaging in assessment services utilize the Rorschach, and 80% of psychology graduate programs teach its use.
Why do psychologists object to the publication of psychological test material?
Psychologists object to the publication of psychological test material out of concerns that a patient's test responses will be influenced (" primed ") by previous exposure. The Canadian Psychological Association takes the position that, "Publishing the questions and answers to any psychological test compromises its usefulness" and calls for "keeping psychological tests out of the public domain." The same statement quotes their president as saying, "The CPA's concern is not with the publication of the cards and responses to the Rorschach test per se, for which there is some controversy in the psychological literature and disagreement among experts, but with the larger issue of the publication and dissemination of psychological test content".
Where did the Rorschach test come from?
Shortly after publication of Rorschach's book, a copy found its way to Japan where it was discovered by one of the country's leading psychiatrists in a second-hand book store. He was so impressed that he started a craze for the test that has never diminished. The Japanese Rorschach Society is by far the largest in the world and the test is "routinely put to a wide range of purposes". In 2012 the test was described, by presenter Jo Fidgen, for BBC Radio 4 's programme Dr Inkblot, as "more popular than ever" in Japan.
What is chess in Rorschach?
CHESSis an open-source project developed for the Rorschach community to design and disseminate a software for the scoring and computing of the Rorschach Comprehensive System (J.E. Exner), and Supplementary Scales.
How many variables are in the Rorschach validity literature?
We systematically evaluated the peer-reviewed Rorschach validity literature for the 65 main variables inthe popular Comprehensive System (CS). Across 53 meta-analyses examining variables against exter-nally assessed criteria (e.g., observer ratings, psychiatric diagnosis), the mean validity was r = .27 (k = 770) as compared to r = .08 (k = 386) across 42 meta-analyses examining variables against introspectively assessed criteria (e.g., self-report). Using Hemphill’s (2003) data-driven guidelines for interpreting the magnitude of assessment effect sizes with only externally assessed criteria, we found 13 variables had excellent support (r ≥ .33 , p < .001; FSN > 50), 17 had good support (r ≥ .21, p < .05, FSN ≥ 10),10 had modest support (p < .05 and either r ≥ .21, FSN < 10, or r= .15–.20, FSN ≥ 10), 13 had little (p < .05 and either r < .15 or FSN < 10) or no support (p > .05), and 12 had no construct-relevant validity studies. The variables with the strongest support were largely those that assess cognitive and perceptual processes (e.g., Perceptual-Thinking Index, Synthesized Response); those with the leastsupport tended to be very rare (e.g.,Color Projection) or some of the more recently developed scales (e.g., Egocentricity Index, Isolation Index). Our findings are less positive, more nuanced, and more inclusive than those reported in the CS test manual. We discuss study limitations and the implications forresearch and clinical practice, including the importance of using different methods in order to improveour understanding of people.
Is the Rorschach Inkblot a psychological test?
Contrary to popular belief, the Rorschach Inkblot Test is NOT strictly a projective psychological or personality measure. In the strictest sense, the Rorschach Inkblot Test is a test or assessment of perception.

History
Administration
- There are 10 official inkblots, each printed on separate white cards. Five inkblots are black and gray; two are black, gray, and red; and three are multicolored without any black. During administration, the examiner will sit next to you. This helps them see what you see. The test involves certain steps: 1. Present: The examiner will give you one card at a time and ask you, “…
Scoring
- So what exactly do interpreters of the Rorschach test look for when they are analyzing responses to the inkblots? The actual content of the responses is one thing, but other factors are essential as well.
Interpretation
- Interpreting a Rorschach record is a complex process. It requires a wealth of knowledge concerning personality dynamics generally as well as considerable experience with the Rorschach method specifically. In addition to formal scores, Rorschach interpretation is also based on behaviors expressed during the testing, patterns of scores across responses, unique or consiste…
Criticisms
- Despite its popularity, the Rorschach is a controversial test. Many of the criticisms center on how the test is scored and whether the results have any diagnostic value.2
Is The Rorschach Still used?
- Today, some psychologists dismiss the Rorschach as merely a relic of psychology's past, a pseudoscience on par with phrenology. However, though the inkblot test may not be a perfect tool, it continues to be used widely, particularly for diagnosing schizophrenia—which was Rorschach's original intent for the test.6The test is used in a variety of settings, such as in schoo…
Summary
Controversies
Origin
Background
Publication
Introduction
Analysis
Work
Purpose
- The Rorschach Inkblot test was not originally intended to be a projective measure of personality. Instead, it was meant to produce a profile of people with schizophrenia (or other mental disorders) based upon score frequencies. Rorschach himself was skeptical of his test being used as a projective measure. The Rorschach is, at its most basic level,...
History
Why The Rorschach Test Is Unique
- Most personality testsare objective in that they have standard methods of administration and scoring. However, in the late 1930s, the Rorschach was classified as a projective test. The term applied to a range of many different tasks that could be used for personality assessment, like asking people to tell imaginative stores that relate to specific ...
Scoring
Interpretation
Conclusion