Chapter IV: Appraisal of the Individual

Abstract

R\ESEARCH approaches to the problem of individual appraisal during the past three years have shown a number of significant trends. There has been a marked increase in emphasis on the development and validation of measures of emotional and social adjustment. Three instruments have received particular attention: The Rorschach Ink Blot Test, Murray Thematic Apperception Test, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Related to this trend is a very large number of studies reporting attempts to develop new projective approaches. Recent research also reflected an interest in expressive approaches to appraisal with sociometric methods receiving the principal attention. Increased reliance on appraisal approaches which do not yield completely objective results and attention to qualitative aspects of traditional methods characterized many studies. It is not clear whether this reflects a trend away from an experimental orientation in counseling and clinical work or the emergence of a new level of professional work.A major trend in research has been increased attention to intra-individual differences and their usefulness in making clinical judgments and developing insights. Analysis of profiles, attention to scatter, and consideration of configuration of test results characterized this trend. Unfortunately, the lack of statistical methods for dealing adequately with intra-individual differences has hindered this significant line of research in appraisal. Meehl (64) has proposed a system for classifying Multiphasic Inventory profiles which should provide useful research leads. Other studies seemed to depend on intuitive analysis. No significant studies using the method of factor analysis with tests as populations appeared during the last three years. Not unrelated to emphasis on the profile was an increased interest in the measurement of narrow aspects of ability and personality. Factor studies have contributed materially in this regard, with the methods of factorial analysis used to define the areas for measurement. Another significant trend was directed toward more rapid evaluation of abilities and personality characteristics. Validation studies of abbreviated scales of various sorts were numerous. There also have been a number of attempts to draw more information from existing instruments of appraisal.The present review is by no means comprehensive; but an attempt has been made to cover significant studies reporting these various trends, and to review research investigations which concerned themselves with problems of new and previously untried methods of appraisal and with the more fundamental problems of the nature of personality organization and the isolation of aspects of personality which should be appraised.