The Holtzman Inkblot Technique.

Abstract

After a brief description of the rationale, construction, and structure of the Holtzman Inkblot Technique, this study critically reviews 10 years (1959-1969) of research with this instrument. An impressive body of positive findings is in evidence, but many more studies are needed in most areas covered by this review. The various technical refinements and extensions of this instrument that have been produced should facilitate the appearance of much needed future research. The dearth of relevant studies renders an evaluative comparison with the Rorschach impossible at this time. Implications of certain issues raised by R. Schafer in 1948, M. D. Ainsworth in 19S4, and R. Holt in 1968 in relation to Rorschach validity studies are discussed in reference to research with the Holtzman technique.

Personality Changes in Chronic Schizophrenic Patients During Five Years' Treatment With Intensive Psychotherapy in Combination With Depot Neuroleptics

“…The Holtzman test, however, has met some of the criticisms. In a review, Gamble (1972) concluded: With reference to the formal aspects of the Holtzman Techniquethe basic structure of the instrument, the elaborate reference group norms providedwe can also agree with Forer's (1965) review in finding "the Holtzman Inkblot Technique a very attractive research instrument".…”

The Validity of the Holtzman Inkblot Technique: New Indices

“…The HIT was commended on its excellent reliability for a performance-based technique ( Holtzman et al, 1961 ; Gamble, 1972 ; Holtzman, 1975 ; Anastasi, 1982 ; Lilienfeld et al, 2000 ; Holtzman and Swartz, 2003 ; Darolia, 2016 ), its ability to differentiate individuals with psychopathology from healthy controls and among different psychopathologies ( Holtzman et al, 1961 ; Moseley, 1963 ; Megargee and Velez-Diaz, 1971 ; Leichsenring, 1990 , 1991 ; Darolia, 2016 ), its sensitivity to detect the developmental changes across the lifespan ( Thorpe and Swartz, 1965 , 1966 ; Swartz et al, 1967 ; Darolia, 2016 ), its maintaining a constant number of total responses to the protocols ( Lilienfeld et al, 2000 ), and for the possibility of group administration ( Darolia, 2016 ; Holtzman, 1988 ; Panek et al, 1983 ). All these features represent advantages over the Rorschach in research and clinical assessment, especially when it comes to a situation, where many subjects have to be tested (e.g., academic, job, and military selection).…”

The functional organization of the brain for mental imagery and image rotation: an electroencephalographic investigation

“…inter and intra-scorer reliability), leads Gamble (1972) to suggest that it might eventually replace the Rorschach technique as its natural successor.…”

“…The HIT consists of two tests containing 45 inkblots. It is important, for the purposes of present study, that in the selection of a given blot an important consideration was the ability to "elicit small detail, space, color, and shading determined responses from the subject" (Gamble, 1972). This characteristic of the HIT suggests that generated images are The criteria for inclusion of a given blot into the original HIT set were;…”

“…• Popular -rating 1 if popular (predefined most frequent responses for specific areas of inkblot as determined by the normative studies of HIT) response is given (Gamble, 1972) When tested for their ability to differentiate a college student from a hospitalized psychotic it was found that, remarkably similarly to the Rorschach, ratings for location, form appropriateness, form definiteness, movement and shading were ail higher in college group.…”