Verbosity and projective test performance in the aged

Abstract

Using normative data collected by Hayslip (1980) where form A of the Holtzman Inkblot Technique (HIT) was administered to 102 elderly adults, aged 59‐94, correlational and factor analyses were carried out in order to investigate the extent to which response length (RL), as previously identified in HIT research with younger age samples, influences HIT scores. RL correlated significantly with HIT scores for 14 of 22 variables and loaded on two factors: A bodily integrity/vulnerability factor, and a cognitive problem‐solving factor. While no differences in RL across sex and level of education were obtained, within‐sample age effects (in favor of the younger) for RL were found. Implications of these data for the projective assessment of older persons were discussed.

Production and perception of "verbosity" in younger and older adults.

“…Although these results suggest a correlation between talkativeness in general and OTS, younger and older adults do not consistently differ in talkativeness, as Arbuckle and Gold (1993) pointed out. Many researchers have failed to find age differences in the amount of speech, measured by total words, utterances, or propositions, in tasks including descriptions of inkblots (Hayslip, 1981), pictures (Cooper, 1990), videos (Heller & Dobbs, 1993), memorable experiences (North, Ulatowska, Macaluso-Haynes, & Bell, 1986), and activities such as mailing a letter (Ulatowska, Cannito, Hayashi, & Fleming, 1985).…”

The Case of Thematic Tests Adapted to Older Adults

“…Foote and Kahn (1979) have used the SAT for discriminating aging patients with brain disorders. Some research has also been conducted on normal or pathological aging with the Holtzman Inkblot Technique (Hayslip 1981(Hayslip , 1982, the Hand Test (Panek, Wagner, & Avolio 1978), figure drawing techniques (Gilbert & Hall, 1962;Oberleder, 1967;Plutchik, Conte, Weiner, & Teresi 1978), a story-telling test based on a plot suggested by the psychologist (Bouisson, 2003), or techniques using tales (Lavallée, 1999). Lawton, Whelihan, and Belsky (1980), Panek, Wagner, and Kennedy-Zwergel (1983), Hayslip and Lowman (1986) conducted a detailed review of existing techniques, their various uses, and the different results observed.…”