How is the Rorschach inkblot test regarded among the Psychological community?

Question

Is it considered a valid tool? What limitations or qualifications?

Answer 1

http://www.deltabravo.net/custody/rorschach.php
Read the end of the article to glean what is thought about this test.

Answer 2

"Hello jxt299!
It's a psychological test in which a subject's interpretations of a series of standard inkblots are analyzed as an indication of personality traits, preoccupations, and conflicts.
A test for personality traits that relies on the subject's interpretations of a series of inkblots. The test was developed by Hermann Rorschach, a Swiss psychiatrist of the twentieth century.
It's projective tests using bilaterally symmetrical inkblots; subjects state what they see in the inkblot.
Rorschach devised the ten standardised cards used today as well as a scoring system. Rorschach considered his test to be a test of "perception and apperception" rather than imagination, and his original scoring system emphasizes perceptual factors - for example whether a response is influenced by form, perceived movement, or color of the blot. After Rorschach's death the original scoring system was developed further. John Exner summarized some of these later developments in the comprehensive Exner system, at the same time trying to make the scoring more statistically rigorous. The Exner system is very popular in the US, while in Europe the textbook by Evald Bohm, which is closer to the original Rorschach system as well as more inspired by psychoanalysis is often considered to be the standard reference work.
The Rorschach inkblot test is controversial for two reasons.

First, because the blots of ink are inherently meaningless and subjective, evaluating the results of a test requires the blots of ink to have meaning in the first place. Otherwise, the images projected into the patterns would be of little value in assessing personality traits. But the psychologist must project onto the patterns in order to give them any meaning and, in a sense, take the test him/herself. So the results of any test will not only show what the patient projected onto the ink blots, but also what the psychologist projected onto the projections of the patient. Third parties could be called in to evaluate what effect the psychologist's interpretations had on the results of the test, but the third parties' evaluations would also be slanted by their own subconscious interpretations of meaningless patterns. The process of evaluating and re-evaluating could go on forever.

This criticism may not be a cogent one given the fact that current Rorschach testing uses empirical data based on research to interpret responses.

Second, although a large number of people with a certain trait see specific images in an ink blot—sociable people have a tendency to see animals in this image; people with schizophrenia have a tendency to see a vase in this image—any given person who sees an image that is seen in an ink blot by a large number of people with a specific trait will not necessarily have that trait her/himself. The Holtzman Inkblot Test was designed to resolve some of the problems of the Rorschach test.
Supporters of the test try to keep the actual cards secret so that the answers are spontaneous. This practice is consistent with the American Psychological Association's ethical standards of preserving test security. The official test is sold only to licensed professionals. These ethics were violated in 2004 when the method of administering the tests and the ten official images were published on the Internet. This reduced the value of projective testing. While the Rorschach Society claims the blots are copyrighted, this has been disputed by others who state that the blots should be in the public domain legally based upon when they were first created and how long the creator has been dead.

Answer 3

it is a subjective techniqiue tool and given some credibility b/c of the consistency in the plates, the standardized presentation of the plates, and the massive number of people who have taken it. problem is, to be accurate with the Rorschach requires full-time devotion. if the plate is somehow linked to a current event, such as an incident on an island (many plates are interpreted as islands), more people will name the island then usual. but what does it measure (validity)? I really don't know. objective techniques have a more consistent validity and reliability. the MMPI is a good example of a well respected objective tool.

Answer 4

Hermann Rorschach came up with the test at the start of the twentieth century. We psychologists look at it like we do with any abstract testing method--it's a tool to get creative people to be creative. If they happen to be schizophrenic to boot, that will show in the content. If they happen to be smart, that will also show. An important part of the test is how the client or patient presents themself during the testing. Paranoid people might look at the back of the card, just to check it out for something secretive, etc.

Answer 5

The Rorschach Test, though controversial, is considered a valuable tool in psychological analysis.

For more info -- including a set of the images in outline form (the real ones include colors in addition to black and white -- see http://www.deltabravo.net/custody/rorschach.php.

Answer 6

It can be if the person who performs the assessment has been trained properly and has appropriate supervision. It is a very subjective test and cannot stand alone. If it is included in a variety of assessments it can be very useful.

Answer 7

it really varies according the school of thought that each thearpist comes from ... one thing it definately does is it gets the client to communicate and at least you have something to be dialogue about ... that is essential in itself.. personally i feel the answers to not divulge some deep hidden meaning into a client rather it will show you their range of thought ... and help you get an idea of where the person is coming from in a general sense...

Answer 8

many psychologists believe that the rorschach and the MMPI can pretty much determine where a person is at

Answer 9

It isn't used much at all anymore. It's hardly even studied in College anymore.