Responses of Disturbed Adolescents on the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement

Abstract

Responses to the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement (KTSA)by 22 adolescents in residential treatment center and 22 adolescents living at home were examined for differential reactions in 6 scoring classifications. The disturbed group did not differ in the relationships of objects in their arrangements, in objects liked and disliked, or in numbers of objects grouped by category. Reasons given for their arrangements by several members of the disturbed group held pathological implications, and significant differences were found between the two groups in the directional consistency in their arrangements. The kinds of objects sorted into good, bad, and hate by both boys and girls in the disturbed group differed significantly from the norms. It was concluded that level of symbolization, consistency in arranging, and the kinds of objects sorted into the categories should be useful in the assessment and treatment of adolescent problems.