Eight different pairs of positive and negative qualities of experienced reality are defined. It is described in detail how these qualities can be recorded in relation to specified varieties of experience: a) sensory perceptions, b) fantasies, and c) “thinking of actually existing objects or properties in persons.” In a study of 15 non‐psychotic patients it was found with a very high reliability that the three varieties of experience each had their characteristic constellation of positive and negative values of the eight qualities of reality. It is pointed out that knowledge of such normal constellations is a logical prerequisite for being able to classify other varieties of experience (hallucinations, delusions, and others) as being pathological.

SUMMARY Seven reality qualities, representing different aspects of experienced reality, are defined. Examples are given of questions which arc useful in evaluation of these qualities connected to everyday experiences, such as sensory perceptions, thoughts of imaginary items, and thoughts of real objects or real abilities in others or in oneself. A study of 48 preschool children indicates that such children understand the questions used, so that an investigational technique using the defined qualities can provide a simple, direct, and reasonably reliable evaluation of reality testing, Some marked differences are found in reality testing between non‐psychotic adults and 3‐yr‐old normal children.