Projective Testing in a Clinical Setting Debate by: Pro: Molly Weston, Nina Losorelli, Bethany Sills Con: Nakia Williams, Jennice Pamilton, Nicole Murph Moderator: Gabriela Pelaez

Projective Testing Definition Definition Long History and Use in Clinical Settings Long History and Use in Clinical Settings People structure their experience around their personality. People structure their experience around their personality. Peoples reasons for their actions can be clear or ambiguous. Peoples reasons for their actions can be clear or ambiguous. ExamplesRorsach Ink Blot Test & Thematic Apperception Test ExamplesRorsach Ink Blot Test & Thematic Apperception Test Subject to intense debate. Subject to intense debate..

Pros 1. Projective Testing allows for partial interpretation of the persons personality in reaction to stimuli. 2. Projective Testing allows for immediate assessment of personality. 3. Projective Testing is more beneficial for those who are not as fluent with the language or construction of the test. 4. Projective Testing allows for assessment of issues that are currently present to the client unlike systematic assessment. 5. Projective Testing allows the client the freedom to choose to help eliminate misdiagnosis.

Cons 1. Projective tests are found to be more subjective than objective. 2. Projective tests can easily be misinterpreted by the clinician and test taker 3. Projective tests have been found to have poor reliability and validity. 4. Projective tests are not used cross culturally. 5. Projective tests have a high chance of being unethical.

Pros Rebuttal to the Cons 1. Although projective testing is more subjective, this is beneficial because it allows clinicians to explore multiple diagnoses with patients rather than computer answers. 1. Although projective testing is more subjective, this is beneficial because it allows clinicians to explore multiple diagnoses with patients rather than computer answers. 2. Projective tests do come with standardized answers for the tests and are based on comparative norms. 2. Projective tests do come with standardized answers for the tests and are based on comparative norms. 3. Not only have certain projective tests been found to have low reliability and validity, so have certain objective measures, like the ACT (American College Test) for instance. 3. Not only have certain projective tests been found to have low reliability and validity, so have certain objective measures, like the ACT (American College Test) for instance. 4. Although projective tests aren't normally used cross-culturally, they can be used to assess some clients that have commonalities with the norms. 4. Although projective tests aren't normally used cross-culturally, they can be used to assess some clients that have commonalities with the norms. 5. Projective tests aren't unethical because they do come with standardized results and are compared with norms. 5. Projective tests aren't unethical because they do come with standardized results and are compared with norms.

Cons Rebuttal the Pros 1. Projective testing use ambiguous stimulus to elicit an unstructured response to the person's personality. 1. Projective testing use ambiguous stimulus to elicit an unstructured response to the person's personality. 2. Projective testing allows for immediate assessment of personality, but it is not necessarily an accurate assessment of a person's personality. 2. Projective testing allows for immediate assessment of personality, but it is not necessarily an accurate assessment of a person's personality. 3. Projective testing uses stimuli that may have different meaning to different cultures. 3. Projective testing uses stimuli that may have different meaning to different cultures. 4. Projective testing does not determine what issues are current in a persons life or from the past. 4. Projective testing does not determine what issues are current in a persons life or from the past. 5. Projective testing is more conducive to misdiagnosis because each individual will respond differently to the same stimuli. 5. Projective testing is more conducive to misdiagnosis because each individual will respond differently to the same stimuli.

Pros Rebut to the Cons Rebuttal 1. It is the depth and openness of the unstructured response that leads to the freeness and total expression of the client, which objective testing cannot reach due to its structured form and sometimes ipsitive questions. 1. It is the depth and openness of the unstructured response that leads to the freeness and total expression of the client, which objective testing cannot reach due to its structured form and sometimes ipsitive questions. 2. Although there is immediate assessment of the test, there are still standardized test answers to eliminate the test administrator from misinterpreting the responses. 2. Although there is immediate assessment of the test, there are still standardized test answers to eliminate the test administrator from misinterpreting the responses. 3. Researchers can study the different cultures they want to research to find what the norms are before they apply the test to these cultures. 3. Researchers can study the different cultures they want to research to find what the norms are before they apply the test to these cultures. 4. Projective testing is relevant to what is going on in a person's life currently because they have the opportunity to test, and retest over time. This allows researchers to focus on what a person's diagnosis is at a current time. 4. Projective testing is relevant to what is going on in a person's life currently because they have the opportunity to test, and retest over time. This allows researchers to focus on what a person's diagnosis is at a current time. 5. While each participant has the chance of responding differently, there are still standardized norms for these tests. 5. While each participant has the chance of responding differently, there are still standardized norms for these tests.

Cons Rebut the Pros Rebuttal 1. If the patient went to another clinician, and did a projective test, there would be a lack of consistency among the clinicians diagnosis's. 1. If the patient went to another clinician, and did a projective test, there would be a lack of consistency among the clinicians diagnosis's. 2.With projective tests, anyone could come up with standardized answers that can be far fetched and even test takers may not agree with. 2.With projective tests, anyone could come up with standardized answers that can be far fetched and even test takers may not agree with. 3.The main concern for projective testing is that one clinicians diagnoses for one patient will not be suitable for the general population. 3.The main concern for projective testing is that one clinicians diagnoses for one patient will not be suitable for the general population. 4.The idea of projective tests is to bring out the specifics of a persons personality. These projective tests are not designed to pick out the commonalities of a persons personality with other people. This is why projective tests can not be used cross culturally. 4.The idea of projective tests is to bring out the specifics of a persons personality. These projective tests are not designed to pick out the commonalities of a persons personality with other people. This is why projective tests can not be used cross culturally. 5. Projective tests are unethical because even though they have standardized results those results are based upon the clinicians opinions and not facts. 5. Projective tests are unethical because even though they have standardized results those results are based upon the clinicians opinions and not facts.

Conclusions Effectiveness Will Always Be Questioned. Effectiveness Will Always Be Questioned. More Research Is Needed. More Research Is Needed. Clinicians Must Follow Standardization Procedures. Clinicians Must Follow Standardization Procedures. Adhere to Exners (1983) System Adhere to Exners (1983) System Follow Strict Ethical Guidelines Follow Strict Ethical Guidelines

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