The Rorschach: Does It Have A Future?

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that in spite of an increasingly critical attitude by many clinicians towards the use of projective techniques, the use of these techniques has not faltered over the years. Insofar as the Rorschach continues to be the most popular projective instrument, its scientific status is critically examined in the present paper. The problems inherent in examining an instrument which has engendered a number of quite distinct scoring systems are noted, and the conclusion is advanced that notwithstanding such problems there seems little likelihood that the Rorschach will experience any significantly diminished popularity in the future.

The clinical utility of the Rorschach: Unfulfilled promises and an uncertain future.

“…Similarly, clinical experience was more important in choosing tests and interpreting test results than were the test’s psychometric properties. Many putative explanations have been offered concerning the limited relevance of extant research for the clinical use of the Rorschach (e.g., Blatt, 1975; Howes, 1981; Levy & Orr, 1959; Schwartz & Lazar, 1979). Imperfections in the research notwithstanding, the apparent disregard of scientific evidence by many psychologists is troubling.…”

Personality Assessment

“…General articles on the Rorschach have included an introductory overview of the Exner system (Wiener-Levy & Exner 1981) and sympathetic promises that the Rorschach will have a long and healthy future (Exner 1980, Howes 1981. Two more useful papers are Amos's (1980) objective flow-chart for scoring certain Rorschach determinants, and a factor analysis of 24 formal scores by Shaffer et al (1981).…”