An analysis was performed on individuals' perceptions of the cards in the Rorschach test using psychophysical methodology. Ss gave similarity ratings on a numerical scale. Both a dimensional and a category analysis were performed on individual and group data. The results gave a clear and psychologically interpretable structure. The perception of the Rorschach cards was shown to be a function of the three stimulus properties: (a) open form, (b) closed form, and (c) color. The agreement in perceptual structure among individuals was shown to be considerable in this homogeneous “normal” group. Some sex differences were observed. Further use of the methodology is discussed.
References
1.
BieriJ.AtkinsA. L.BriarS.LeamanR. L.MillerH.TripodiT.Clinical and social judgment: the discrimination of behavioral information. New York: Wiley, 1966.
CoombsC. H.A theory of data. New York: Wiley, 1964.
4.
CrumptonE.GrootH.The “meaning” of Rorschach color cards as a function of color. Journal of Projective Techniques and Personality Assessment, 1966, 30, 359–363.
5.
DawR.An assessment of the Holtzman and the Rorschach inkblots using the semantic differential. Dissertation Abstracts, 1965, 26, 488–489.
6.
DietzeA. G.Types of emotions or dimensions of emotion? A comparison of typal analysis with factor analysis. Journal of Psychology, 1963, 56, 143–159.
7.
EbelR. L.Estimation of the reliability of ratings. Psychometrika, 1951, 16, 407–424.
8.
EkmanG.Dimensions of color vision. Journal of Psychology, 1954, 38, 467–474.
9.
EkmanG.Dimensions of emotion. Acta Psychologica, 1955, 11, 279–288.
10.
EkmanG.Comparative studies on multidimensional scaling and related techniques. In PawlikK. (Ed.), Perspectives in multivariate psychological research. Bern: Huber, 1971, in press.
11.
EkmanG.LindmanR.Multidimensional ratio scaling and multidimensional similarity. Reports from the Psychological Laboratories, the University of Stockholm, 1961, No. 103.
12.
HarmanH. H.Modern factor analysis. Chicago: Univer. of Chicago Press, 1960.
13.
KellyG. A.The psychology of personal constructs. New York: Norton, 1955.
14.
KennyD. T.Stimulus functions In projective techniques. In MaherB. A. (Ed.), Progress in experimental personality research. Vol. 1. New York: Academic Press, 1964 Pp. 285–354.
15.
KorchinS. J.Form perception and ego functioning. In Rickers-OvsiankinaM. A. (Ed.), Rorschach psychology. New York: Wiley, 1960 Pp. 109–129.
16.
KuennapasT.Acoustic perception and acoustic memory of letters. Multidimensional ratio scaling and multidimensional similarity. Acta Psychologica, 1968, 28, 161–170.
17.
KuennapasT.JansonA.-J.Multidimensional similarity of letters. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1969, 28, 3–12.
18.
LevyN.Affective preference for Card IV or VII of the Rorschach as related to sex and age. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1969, 28, 741–742.
19.
LyttonH.Children's expression of like-dislike and their responses to color in the Rorschach. Journal of Projective Techniques and Personality Assessment, 1966, 30, 51–53.
20.
MagnussonD.An analysis of situational dimensions. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1971, 32, 851–867.
21.
MagnussonD.EkmanG.A psychophysical approach to the study of personality traits. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 1970, 5, 255–274.
22.
McQuittyL. L.Elementary linkage analysis for isolating orthogonal and oblique types and typal relevancies. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1957, 17, 207–229.
23.
McQuittyL. L.Typal analysis. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1961, 21, 677–696.
24.
McQuittyL. L.Capabilities and improvements of linkage analysis as a clustering method. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1964, 24, 441–456.
25.
OsgoodC. E.SuciG. J.TannenbaumP. H.The measurement of meaning. Urbana, Ill.: Univer. of Illinois Press, 1957.
26.
RabinA. J.A contribution to the “meaning” of Rorschach's inkblots via the semantic differential. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1959, 23, 368–372.
27.
Rickers-OvsiankinaM. A.Synopsis of psychological premises underlying the Rorschach. In Rickers-OvsiankinaM. A. (Ed.), Rorschach psychology. New York: Wiley, 1960 Pp. 3–22.
28.
SarbinT. R.TaftR.BaileyD. E.Clinical inference and cognitive theory. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1960.
29.
ShapiroD.A perceptual understanding of color response. In Rickers-OvsiankinaM. A. (Ed.), Rorschach psychology. New York: Wiley, 1960 Pp. 154–201.
30.
ShepardR. N.The analysis of proximities: Multidimensional scaling with an unknown distance function: I and II. Psychometrika, 1962, 27, 125–140; 219–246.
31.
SinesJ. O.An approach to the study of the stimulus significance of the Rorschach inkblots. Journal of Projective Techniques, 1960, 24, 64–66.
32.
TorgersonW. S.Theory and methods of scaling. New York: Wiley, 1958.
33.
WedinL.Dimension analysis of the perception of musical style. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 1969, 10, 97–108.
