Validity of projective tests as personality measures

Projective Tests

In contrast to objective tests, projective tests are unstructured and rely on highly ambiguous stimuli such as inkblots or pictures that are, therefore, open to different interpretations that can lead to varying test results. For example, it has been claimed by some experts that the "spaces" between figures or objects in a Rorschach inkblot have special meaning; space responses are associated with "negativity, difficulty handing anger, and oppositional tendencies" (Groth-Marnat, 1997). However, Arnheim (1974) states that the spaces separating figures can be thought of as setting off and defining the relations among figures or objects in the inkblot based on processes of perceptual organization.

The underlying principle of projective tests is that aspects of an individual's personality will be reflected in that individual's responses that are free from outside bias. However, projective tests are subject to contextual and situational factors such as mood of the examiner or language/tone choice that may influences test responses (Lilienfled, 1999). Further, the subjectivity in scoring and interpretation is a huge issue (Sutherland, 1992). For example, if one believes that a relationship exists between say, a Rorschach feature such as color and a personality trait such as emotional style, then one's prior beliefs can bias judgment (Vyse, 1997). As evidence, psychologists were prone to say a relationship existed between a test response and a psychological condition -- if it accorded with their prior beliefs -- even when none actually existed (Chapman & Chapman, 1971, cited in Vyse, 1997).