Tests
That Charlie Took
from
Flowers for Algernon
Tests that Charlie Took
• The Ink Blot (Rorschach) Test
• Thematic Apperception Test
• Maze
Test 1
Ink Blot Test
(Rorschach Test)
Instructions
• You are about to see several ink blots one at a
time. Write down on your paper the following
information after seeing each ink blot:
1. What you see the first time you look.
2. What you see after studying it a while.
3. Your emotional response to it.
You will have one minute to respond to each blot.
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Definition
• The Rorschach inkblot test is a method of
psychological evaluation. Psychologists use this
test to try to examine the personality
characteristics and emotional functioning of their
patients. The Rorschach is currently the second
most commonly used test in forensic
assessment, after the MMPI, and is the second
most widely used test by members of the
Society for Personality Assessment. It has been
employed in diagnosing underlying thought
disorder and differentiating psychotic from
nonpsychotic thinking in cases where the patient
is reluctant to openly admit to psychotic thinking.
Blot Confidentiality
• The Rorschach ink blots are supposed to remain
secret so as not to "pollute" the test population
(people to whom the test is given to). The theory
behind the test, created by Hermann Rorschach,
is that the test taker's spontaneous or
unrehearsed responses reveal deep secrets or
significant information about the taker's
personality or innermost thoughts.
Test Administration
• The test giver will rarely if ever give you
any guidance; they will instead tell you that
you're free to do whatever you like with the
card (flip it, tilt it, lay it down, etc). About
50% of people who take the test do flip or
rotate the cards, and the psychologist is
supposed to note anything and everthing
you do with them.
Taking the Test
• In the standard test protocol you are given the cards one at a time in
a specific order, and the psychologist is supposed to place them
directly in your hands facing "up" and in a particular orientation. The
order is not supposed to vary. The genuine Rorschach cards are
numbered on the back primarily for the psychologist's use. If you
notice the numbers or remark on them, a note is supposed to be
made about this. The cards themselves are large, about 6 3/4 by 9
inches and are made of a stiffened cardboard or, in modern
variations, a textured plastic that mimics the feel of cardboard. Five
of the cards have purely black and white images, two of the cards
are black, white, and red, and the last three cards have various
colors of ink used in the blots.
During the test the psychologist or psychiatrist will record everything
you say; some use a tape recorder so they can extract more
detailed notes later, after the test is over and you have left.
Response
• Response Time
The time it takes you to provide a verbal response is
carefully noted, along with any other secondary
comments you may make. Hand gestures and some
body movements may also be noted
• Your Responses
According to some psychologists, stating "This is a..."
constitutes a "bad" response. You are supposed to know
that the cards don't actually represent any recognizable
figures, so saying something like "This looks like ..." is
considered a more "healthy" response.
Good or Bad Answers
•
What is a "good" answer versus a "bad" answer? Your best bet is probably
to stick to "seeing" healthy, friendly images. Avoid dark or violent answers ("I
see Satan eating a baby's brain!"). Butterflies, people holding hands,
leaves, mountains, etc are all generally considered to be "safe" responses.
If you can show how a particular shape really does resemble something, go
ahead and say so. If you come up with a novel or particularly interesting
answer you may get "points" for your creativity.
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Don't try and be outlandish, provocative, obstinate, or oppositional- these
won't curry any favor with the test giver (and will in fact typically count
against you).
Overly-sexualized answers or imagery will, as you might suspect, be
noticed and generally scored against you.
Taking an excessively long time to answer or answering immediately (not
taking any time to ponder the card at all) will virtually always count against
you. Just how much will be up to the examiner, but both ultra-quick
responses as well as slow or "tardy" responses to the Rorschach cards are
considered "bad".
Test takers who pay attention to details rather than the overall images are
scored down.
People who paused before commenting on the colored cards (but not the
black and white ones) are displaying "color shock,“ which is negative.
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Shapes And Visualization
• Some psychologists feel that you should see a
limited range of shapes or "items" in each
particular card.
• Seeing radically different things than the typical
responses or claiming to see nothing at all will
definitely be held against you in terms of
Rorschach scoring, and may result in a finding of
"retardation" or a possible mental disorder.
• Seeing lots of different things in the card may
also be taken as a sign of cognitive problems or
even schizophrenia.
Movement and Color
• "Movement- and color-based responses were of
paramount importance in Rorschach's system of
weighing personality. He believed that test takers who
offer a high number of movement ("M") responses are,
paradoxically, turned inward or "introspective"; intelligent
and creative, they are nonetheless awkward and socially
inept. In contrast, subjects who favor color ("C")
responses are "extrasensitive," or adroit in comapny but
restless and impulsive. Someone who registers a high
number of both M and C scores qualifies ad "dilated" or
"ambiequal" -a healthy blending of introspective and
extrasensitive traits. But low and similar numbers of M
and C responses stigmatize the subject as "coarctive," or
lacking in both creativity and emotional stability.
Test 2
Thematic
Apperception
Test
Instructions
Tell as dramatic a story as you can for each
picture, including:
1. what has led up to the event shown
2. what is happening at the moment
3. what the characters are feeling and thinking
4. what the outcome of the story is.
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Definition
• The Thematic Apperception Test is an
example of a projective test.
• Historically, the Thematic Apperception Test or
TAT has been amongst the most widely used,
researched, and taught projective psychological
tests. Its adherents claim that it taps a subject's
unconscious to reveal repressed aspects of
personality, motives and needs for achievement,
power and intimacy, and problem-solving
abilities.
Actual Test
Administration of the Test
• The 30 cards are meant to be divided into
two "series" of 15 pictures each, with the
pictures of the second series being
purposely more unusual, dramatic, and
bizarre than those of the first. Suggested
administration involves one full hour being
devoted to a series, with the two sessions
being separated by a day or more.
Test 3
Mazes
Instructions
• Complete the mazes supplied by your
teacher.
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Solution to Maze 1
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Solution to Maze 2
Projects:
Choose one of the following projects to
make:
1. A sample ink blot test
2. A sample Thematic Apperception Test
3. A 3-D maze
Project 1: Ink Blot Test
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Use seven, white,10x13 sized cards.
On the first card, put “Ink Blot Test by ______”.
On the second card, write the instructions.
On the other five cards, make a large ink blot.
Use black paint.
Put the paint in the middle of the card, and then
fold the card over on itself so that it creates a
mirrored image. Do not TRY to make a certain
picture.
• Present the test to the class.
Project 2:
Thematic Apperception Test
• Use seven, white, 10x13 sized cards.
• On the first card, write “Thematic
Apperception Test by __________”.
• On the second card, write the instructions.
• On the other five cards, put one 8 1/2 x11,
up-dated picture that elicits a strong
emotional reaction and that could easily
have multiple stories explaining the
content of the picture.
Project 3: A 3-D Maze
• Make a 3-D maze out of wood or some
other material that will be sturdy and last.
• It should be the size of a half sheet of
poster board. However, do not build it on
poster board; instead, build it on thick
cardboard or wood, so that it will withstand
the weight of the maze.
• Include a solution to the maze.