Rorschach Interpretation Guide
Rorschach Interpretation Assistance Program™ Client Report by Irving B. Weiner, PhD and PAR Staff Client Information Name: Mr. Test Date: The following report is based on the responses you gave to the Rorschach Inkblot Method. Rorschach Test Cheat Sheet July 29, 2009 by Ryan Jones There’s an interesting article in the New York Times claiming that Wikipedia is de-valuing the Rorschach test by including the 10 ink blot images and their most common associated terms as part of its article.
The Structural Summary for each protocol is created as responses are entered. Note that the Structural Summary report will not be generated until there are at least 14 responses for the protocol. To view the Structural Summary report, click on the Structural Summary link in the Report table.
The first table of the Structural Summary report, Client Information, is used to record short summery demographic data. (A full record of the client and protocol demographic data can be found in the Sequence of Scores report.)
Rorschach has been the second most investigated personality assessment instrument (following the MMPI), with about 7,000 citations in the literature as of the mid-1990s (Butcher & Rouse, 1996). Although the Rorschach is frequently taught in graduate programs, valued on internship and in clinical practice, and regularly researched, it also has.
The upper part of Structural Summary itself shows the frequencies for each variable, while the lower part presents ratios, percentage and numerical derivations. They are the base for many of the test interpretive propositions.
The Structural Summary – Upper Section
Location Features.
Organizational Activity.
| Zf(Z frequencies) – The number of times a Z response has occurred in the protocol. ZSum – The summation of the weighted Z scores that have been assigned. ZEset – The estimated weighted ZSum for a given Zf. This value is derived from a table of estimated ZSum when Zf is known. (Exner, (2001) A Rorschach Workbook. p. 91). |
Location Codes.
Each of the three basic location codes (W, D, Dd) are tallied separately. The frequencies for W+D and S are also tallied. These last two frequencies are not subtracted from the tallies for the three basic location codes.
DQ
Shows frequencies for each of the four developmental quality codes.
Form Quality.
FQx (Form Quality Extended) – The frequencies of each of the form quality codes in the entire protocol.
MQual (Human Movement FQ) – The frequencies of each of the form quality codes for all of the Human Movement responses.
W+D (Common Area FQ) – The FQ codes frequencies of all the responses that have been given to W and D areas.
Determinants.
Each of the determinants is tallied separately, except when occurring in a blend. Each blend is entered in the separate section under Blends, and the determinants in the blends section are not counted again when entering the frequencies for the single determinants in the column headed Single.
Contents.
This column includes each of the 27 Contents categories. The entry for each item represents the total number of times that the content has been coded as primary and as secondary.
Approach.
This section record the location approach and shows the sequence of location selections used by the client when responding to each card.
Special Scores.
This area presents the frequencies for each of the fifteen Special Scores. It also includes two additional calculations. The Raw Sum6 – is the total for all Level 1 and Level 2 scores for DV, INCOM, DR, and FABCOM, plus the ALOG and CONTAM entries. The second calculation, Weighted Sum6 – is for those same six special scores, each receives a weight as follow:Weighted Sum6 = (1)xDV + (2)xDV2 + (2)xINCOM + (4)xINCOM2 + (3)xDR + (6)xDR2 +(4)xFABCOM + (7)xFABCOM2 + (5)xALOG + (7)xCONTAM
The Structural Summary – Lowe Section
The lower section of the Structural Summery is divided into seven clusters.
The Core Cluster.
The Core Cluster is at the upper left of the lower section of the Structural Summery. It contains sixteen entries. Seven entries are frequency data for R (total number of responses), and the total number for each of the determinants FM, m, SumC’, SumT, SumV, and SumY. (The latter four include all variations, so that SumC’ includes FC’, C’F, aand C’; SumT includes FT, TF, T; etc..)
The other nine entries are ratios and derivations. They are:
L (Lambda) – This is the ratio that compares the frequency of pure F responses to all other answers in the protocol. It calculate as:
L = F (Number of responses having only pure F determinant) / R – F ( Total R minus pure Form answers)
EB (Erlebnistypus) – This is a relationship between human movement (M), and the weighted sum of the chromatic color responses.
It is entered as SUM M : Weighted Sum Color. The Weighted Sum Color (WSumC) is obtained by multiplying each type of chromatic color response by a weight. Color Naming (Cn) are not included in the WSumC. Thus, WSumC = (0.5)xFC + (1.0)xCF + (1.5)xC.
EA (Experience Actual) – This derivation is obtained by adding the two sides of the EB together, that is, Sum M + WSumC.
EBPer (EB Pervasive) – This ratio is calculate only when the following three criteria are indicated in the protocol. First, the value for EA must be 4.0 or greater. Second, the value of Lambda must be less than 1.0. Third, if the value of EA falls between 4.0 and 10.0, one side of the EB must be at least two points greater than the other side; or if the value of EA is more than 10.0, one side of the EB must be at least 2.5 points greater than the other.
eb (Experience Base) – This is a relationship comparing all nonhuman movement determinants (FM and m) to the shading and acromatic color determinants. It is enter as Sum Fm+m : Sum of (SumC’ + SumT + SumY + Sumv).
es (Experience Stimulation) – This is a derivation obtained from the data in the eb. It is obtained by adding the two sides of the eb together.
That is, Sum Fm+m + SumC’ + SumT + SumY + Sumv.
D (D Score) – The D Score obtained by calculating the difference between EA – es, including the appropriate sign. The different raw score is then converted into a scale difference score, based on standard deviations, in which each SD has been rounded to equal 2.5. (See the D Score Conversion Table in Exner, (2001) A Rorschach Workbook. p. 95.)
Adj es (Adjusted es) – This derivation is obtained by subtracting from the es all but 1 m and 1 SumY.
Adj D (Adjusted D Score) – This derivation is obtained by using the formula EA – Adj es. The result is applied against the D Score Conversion Table (Exner, (2001) A Rorschach Workbook. p. 95).
The Ideation Cluster.
This cluster contains nine entries. Five of the nine are frequency data that are transcribed from the upper section of the Structural Summery. They are the frequencies for MOR, Sum6, Level 2 Special Scores, M-, and M responses that contain no form. A sixth entry (WSum6) has already been calculated and is also transcribed from the upper section of the Structural Summery. The remaining three items consist of two ratios and one index. They are:
a:p (Active:Passive Ratio) – This relationship is entered as the total number of Active movement responses (Ma + FMa + ma) on the left and total number of Passive movement responses (Mp + FMp + mp) on the right. Movement determinants with a-p superscripts are added to both sides.
Ma:Mp (M Active:Passive Ratio) – This relationship includes only human movement responses with total Active human movement responses entered on the left and total Passive human movement responses entered on the right. Ma-p responses are added to both sides.
2AB + (Art + Ay) (The Intellectualization Index) – This index includes the Special Score Abstract (AB) and the contents Art and Anthropology. It is calculated as two times the number of AB responses plus the number of Art and Ay contents.
The Affective Cluster.
This cluster includes seven entries. Three are frequencies (Pure C, S, CP), and the data from those items are transcribed from the upper section of the Structural Summery. The remaining four entries are the ratios described below.
FC:CF+C+Cn (Form-Color Ratio) – This ratio is entered with the total number of FC determinants on the left and the sum of the Cf+C+Cn on the right.
SumC’:WSumC (Constriction Ratio) – This ratio is entered with the total number of C’ determinants on the left and the weighted sum of chromatic color (WSumC) on the right.
Afr (Affective Ratio) – This ratio is calculated as the number of responses to the last tree cards divided by the number of responses to the first seven cards. That is, Afr = (R VIII+IX+X) / (R I+II+III_IV+V+VI+VII).
Blends:R (Complexity Ratio) – This relationship is entered with the total number of blends on the left and the number of responses on the right.
The Mediation Cluster.
This cluster contains seven entries. Two are frequencies data that are calculated directly from the Sequence of scores. One is for number of Popular responses (P). The second is the number of Minus responses that includes white space as part of the location. The remaining five items in this cluster are percentages.
XA% (Form Appropriate Extended) – This variable is calculated as sum of responses that have an FQ of +, O, or U divided by the total number of responses. That is, XA% = (Sum of responses that have an FQ of +, O, or U) / R.
WDA% (Form Appropriate – Common Area) – This variable is calculated as the proportion of responses given to W and D areas that have an FQ of +, O, or U divided by the total number of W+D responses. That is, WDA% = (Sum of W+D responses that have an FQ of +, O, or U) / (Sum of W+D).
X-% (Distorted Form) – This variable is calculated as the proportion of responses in which form use is not adequate with the blot feature. It is calculated as: X-% = (Sum FQx-) / R
X+% (Conventional Form use) – This variable is calculated as the proportion of responses in which form use is appropriate with the blot feature. It is calculated as: X+% = (Sum FQx + or O) / R
Xu% (Unusual Form) – This variable is calculated as the proportion of responses in which form features has included uncommon object definitions. It is calculated as: Xu% = (Sum FQxu) / R
The Processing Cluster.
This cluster contains seven entries. Four (ZA, PSV, DQ+, and DQv) are frequencies data transcribed from the upper section of the Structural Summery. Two of remaining three are express relationships, and the third is a difference score.
W:D:Dd (Economy Index) – This relationship is entered as the total number of w responses on the left, the total number of D responses on the center, and the total number of Dd responses on the right.
W:M (Aspirational Index) – This relationship is entered as the total number of w responses on the left and the total number of M responses on the right.
Zd (Processing Efficiency) – The Zd is a difference score obtained by the formula ZSun – Zest, with the appropriate sign.
The Interpersonal Cluster.
This cluster contains ten entries. Five of them (sum of COP responses, sum of Ag responses, sum of Food contents, sum of pure H responses, and the number of PER Special Scores) are frequencies data transcribed from the upper section of the Structural Summery. A six item displays a relationship (GHR:PHR) using frequencies data from the upper section of the Structural Summery, with the sum of GHR entered on the left and the sum of PHR entered on the right. Seven item, SumT, is the transcribed from the Core Cluster, and an eighth, a:p is transcribed from the Ideation Cluster. The remaining two items use the following calculations.
Human Cont. (Interpersonal Interest) – This entry is the sum of all human responses. It is calculated as:
Human Cont. = The sum of H + (H) + Hd + (Hd) [note that Hx is not included]
Isolate/R (Isolation Index) – This variable is calculated as the sum of five content categories (Botany, Clouds, Geography, Landscape, and Nature) with the raw sum for two categories being double, divided by the total number of responses.
That is, Isolate/R = (Bt + 2Cl + Ge + Ls + 2Na) / R
The Self Perception Cluster.
This cluster contains seven entries. Four are frequencies, or the sum of frequencies from the upper section of the Structural Summery. They includes the sum Fr+rF, the number of Form Dimension (FD) responses, the number of Special Scores for morbid content (MOR), and the sum of Anatomy (n) and X-ray (Xy) contents. The fifth entry, SumV, is transcribed from the Core Cluster. The sixth entry is a ratio H:(H)+Hd+(Hd) in which the number of pure H is entered on the left, and the sum of (H)+Hd+(Hd) is entered on the right. The seventh item uses the following calculation.
3r+(2)/R (Egocentric Index) – This index is the proportion of reflection and pair responses to the total number of responses, with each reflection determinant weighted as being equal to three pair responses. It is calculated as:
3r+(2)/R = [3x(Fr+rF) + Sum(2)] / R
Next: Constellations Report.
ADMINISTRATION AND SCORING SYMBOL SYNOPSIS
For these reasons, the variabilityin instructions among the common systems is unfortunate. Obviously, instructionsand procedures must be consistent with one's ethical and professional responsibilityto respect the patient's autonomy; beyond that the administrative proceduresshould be minimally intrusive in order to avoid establishing expectanciesbeyond the most complete possible reporting of the subject's thoughts.
For these reasons, the examinationshould begin by clarifying its purpose. When the testing is basedon a referral, the identity and role of the referring professional shouldbe explicitly clear, as should the nature of the report and the party orparties to whom it will be accessible.
When subjects are being testedfor training purposes within a service setting--a school, clinic, or hospital--itis important to clarify to what extent a report will become part of thesubject's record, and what access he or she will have to it. It isalso important to provide a means for such
subjects to have answered retrospective questions about themselvesor about the answered.
For example, a graduate student might say,
'Hello Ms. Smith, I'm JohnJay, a graduate student in clinical psychology. As part of my trainingI have to learn to give certain psychological tests, and I appreciate yourvolunteering your time in this way. Because this is a training exercise,there won't be any report of the results in your school/clinic/hospitalrecords. Before we start, are there any questions you have? If questions occur to you later you can call Dr. Jones at 977-7777.'
Because we believe in keepingthe various sources of clinical inferences as separate as possible, wedo not begin testing sessions with a clinical interview. Such interviewscan be very informative, but are best done by someone other than the testerwhenever possible.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION
Seating Arrangement
It is recommended that the examinerposition him or herself so that the subject's handling of the card canbe observed and so that the examiner may comfortably write down the subject'sresponses and note behaviors. The position we generally use is onein which the examiner and subject are approximately side by side, at anangle of approximately 45 degrees. We feel this allows the examinerto observe accurately while affording some privacy in recording.Instructions
The purpose of the instructionsis to establish a consistent set in the minds of the subjects being tested. The basic points to be covered are that the patient will be shown ten non-representationalstimuli and asked to report all associations to them. The form weuse is approximately as follows:'I'm going to show you tencards, each containing a picture of an inkblot. I'll give them to you oneat a time. I'll ask you to look at each card and tell me what it lookslike. Spend as much time as you like on each card but be sure to tell meeverything that occurs to you.'
If the subject fails to givean association and tries to return the first card in less than two minutes,the examiner is to say, 'Give yourself plenty of time. Most peoplesee several things on each card.'
If the subject gives onlyone response to the first card and spends less than two minutes searchingfor additional responses, the examiner is to say:
'Give yourself plenty oftime. Most people see more than one thing on each card.'
This urging procedure isto be repeated, if necessary, on the second card, but not subsequently.
Response to Questions
Requests by the subject forpermission to turn the card or to respond to only a part of the blot areacceded to as simply as possible. A 'yes' will usually suffice. Theprinciple of minimal intrusion by the tester holds true for most questionssubjects pose about administrative procedure.Inquiry
The purpose of the inquiry isto obtain any necessary further information about the subject's responsesfor the purpose of scoring the record after associations have been obtainedto all ten cards. We choose to defer the inquiry until after thefree association phase is complete because to introduce it after the firstcard tends to make subjects more cautious.It is usually best for thetester to minimize any defensiveness or anxiety the patient might feelby taking the responsibility on himself for needing additional informationand by carefully avoiding the implication that the patient's performancehas been inadequate or faulty. A second principle is to obtain anynecessary additional information with a minimum of biasing structure beingintroduced; avoid suggesting or encouraging the use of specific justifications. At the same time, do be sure to inquire about each element of the percept.
In general, we begin theinquiry as follows:
'Okay. Now that we're done,I'd like to go back over the cards with you to make sure I got your responsesstraight. Let's see. The first thing you saw on this card was _________________.'
The tester then looks upexpectantly, providing an opportunity for the patient to talk further aboutthe response. This opportunity will usually elicit sufficient additionalinformation. If the patient does not respond at all, the tester shouldsay, 'Tell me more about that.'
If sufficient informationstill is not elicited at this point, the tester should say, 'What aboutthe blot brought that to mind?'
If sufficient informationstill is not available, we conclude that it will be not forthcoming withoutthe introduction of biasing structure.
Be sure to inquire aboutevery salient aspect of the response, indicating in your notes in parentheseswhat you asked about. For example, Free Association: 'A scary bat';Inquiry: 'Why a bat?'...'Why scary?'
The tester should specificallyavoid asking the patient to trace the outline of the percept (biasing towardform), and asking about the importance of specific variables (e.g., 'Wasthe color important?').
Testing Children
Modifications in testing procedureare used in testing children five and six years old. Because thisage group usually has not been well socialized into structured task performanceand because social expectations are less clear, it is necessary to be moreexplicit in informing these subjects of what is desired from them duringthe Inquiry phase. Therefore, if sufficient scoring information isnot forthcoming following the standard inquiry procedure, the examinershould ask directly for location and should repeat instructions such 'But,what about this inkblot makes it seem like a bat? Exactly where didyou see the bat?' Very young children will often have difficultyjustifying their responses by objective criteria and may have only a vaguenotion of where the response is located. Further pushing is, therefore,not fruitful and runs the risk of suggesting 'correct answers.'Materials for Noting Rorschach Responses
The final test protocol willconsist of three parts: the response sheets, the scoring sheet(s), andthe summary sheet(s).Response Sheets
Use plain white 8-1/2' by 11'paper turned sideways with three columns marked off one each sheet. Thefirst column should be about 3/4' wide to record the card numbers and thelatency. Latency is the time that elapses between receiving the cardand the first response to that card. Count with seconds in your head; donot use a watch. The notations need not be exact.The second column shouldbe about four inches wide to record the free-association. Record only threeor four responses per sheet, leaving space between them. Number eachresponse in succession. Be prepared with 10 or 12 sheets for each administration. For each response, note in which position the card was held when the responsewas given. Use 'carats' with the point of the carat in the same positionas the top of the card. For example, would indicate the card washeld in the normal position, would indicate it was held upside down, and< and > would indicate it was rotated a quarter turn. All cardturning should also be indicated. A circular arrow is usually used forthis purpose, e.g., .
The third column should alsobe about 4' wide to record the inquiry. Put each response directlyacross from the free-association response to which it corresponds,labeling it with the same number.
It is suggested that inkbe used in recording the free-association and inquiry. The responsesheets must be written so that others can read them. The subject'sname should be written on each sheet. It is helpful to train oneselfto write legibly during the administration so that one need not use timerecopying.
Scoring Sheets and Summary Sheets
A sample of each of these forms is included on page___. All scoring may be done in pencil. After the scores are completedon the scoring sheets, they are tallied and are then recorded on the summarysheet. Section (K) gives instructions for using the summary sheet.PRECIS OF SCORING, CATEGORIES, SYMBOLS AND CRITERIA
Because of the complexity ofRorschach scoring, the precis below may be helpful:The scoring system is dividedinto the following categories:
Location: Blot Area and Frequency (p. ___).
Cognitive Complexity: Perceptual Approach and Organization (p.___).
Justifications: Blot Attributes alluded to (p. ___).
Imaginal Aspects: Imaginary Attributes (p. ___).
Social Appropriateness: The degree to which the response is characteristicallyfound in grossly disturbed individuals (p. ___).
Conceptual Content: Type of Percept: animal, vegetable, mineral(p. ___).
Interpersonal Expectations: Complexity and Quality of ConsciousHuman-related Fantasies and Less Conscious General Expectations (p. ___).
Psychosexual Drive and Defense Effectiveness: Psychoanalytically-Derived(p. ___).
Perceptual-Cognitive Characteristic: Thinking Style not scoredelsewhere (p. ___).
These nine areas form theBurstein-Loucks Scoring System. These are the areas important to the assessmentof the psychological functioning of the subject. The various scores whichfall under each of these headings are simply elaborations of these concepts.An overview of all categories and scores is provided on pages _____.
PREFACE TO SCORING
The following section will present the criteria forall possible Rorschach scores, category by category and score by scorewithin each category. Whenever possible, criteria have been listed. In some cases all criteria must be met for a response to receive a score;in other cases, only one or two criteria must be met. When all criteriamust be met, the word 'ALL' is placed above the criteria list.In giving sample responses,a number of common abbreviations are used: l.l. or ll = looks like; b.f.or bf = butterfly; a.e. or ae = anything else; ? or Q = question asked;I or Inq. = inquiry.
Scoring Exceptions
Rorschach Test
Scoring exceptions consist of those cases where thesubject gives a response, but it is not scored in the usual way. Exceptions are listed below.1. Precision Alternatives are second responses to exactly thesame area, utilizing exactly the same justification, imaginal aspects,content, psychosexual drive, and motivational valuation with no interveningresponses and no card turning. These precision alternatives are designatedPA under the Perception-Cognitive Characteristics column of the previousresponse and not scored otherwise.
2. Responses which are elicited for the first time in the inquiry arecalled 'additional responses.' They are scored in brackets and notincluded in computing ratios and totals on the summary sheet.
3. Occasionally in the inquiry phase, a subject will be unable to rememberhaving given a response or where it was seen. This 'lost response'is not counted as a response but is scored LR in the Perceptual-CognitiveCharacteristics Category column of the previous response.
4. One exception consists of a free association process in which responsesare given by the subject but then later combined into a global, largerresponse. In this case, the larger, global response is scored rather thanthe separate scorings of separate response elements.
Rorschach Interpretation Guide
Scoring Examples: 'a tree,' 'a flower,' 'a waterfall,'a girl,' 'Oh, it's a forest scene with a native girl bathing.' Inthis case the overall synthesized response is the one scored.