There are two tests that have been used over time to analyze and test an individual’s psychopathology and characteristics. The first test is called the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). The second test is known as the Rorschach Inkblot Test and was designed to assess and analyze thought process disorder. Both of these types of psychological testing have had different views and opinions. There has been great praise in the resourcefulness of these tests in many findings. In contrast to the positive reviews, there have been negative reviews as well. The findings of these tests have been controversial on behalf of the outcome they have to offer. The controversy has been in regards to the credibility of the results and whether they are very useful or beneficial in the objectives of psychological assessments.
The Rorschach Inkblot Test was invented in 1921 and consists of the 10 inkblot images. “It consists of five images in color and the other five are in black and white” . It was one of the most significantly used psychological testings in the 20th century. Even with this test being widely used for many decades, its portrayal has been contradicting. The researchers who have studied the test and its finding have concluded that it is confusing. They feel that the test has a scoring system for each inkblot and it is hard to understand and analyze.
The Inkblot test had originally used five different scoring systems. These scoring systems were used to measure the results of patients, identifying with the inkblot testing. Out of the five scoring systems, there were two that were used most often. The two were Klopfer and Beck scoring systems. The Rapaport-Schafer, Piotrowski, and Hertz scoring systems were not used very often for the findings of the inkblot testing. After substantial analyzation and research in regards to the five scoring systems, there were negative findings. The findings had revealed that there were not literally five scoring systems because the five systems were so different that they displayed findings for five different versions of the Rorschach Inkblot Test instead of one Rorschach Inkblot Testing.
The MMPI has conflicting issues with the test and outcomes. “The test if primarily used for people who are suspected of having a mental health or personality disorder” . When it was designed it was meant to be used in a clinical setting for patients who had signs of mental illness. It was used in an outpatient setting later on but was not constructed to be used in this manner. The Rorschach Inkblot Test and the MMPI are administered by a trained psychologist. All psychological assessments must be administered by psychologists who are trained in these testing fields. The test cannot be purchased in a store or online for administration. It is more advanced due to its lengthy questionnaire.
There are two versions of MMPI test. The original version has over 560 questions that are true or false. The newer version of the test that is called the MMPI-2 has less than that. It includes only approximately 338 true or false questions and was created in 2008. Even though the newer test does not take as long for patients to take, the older test is often used instead. The reason for this is that many psychiatrists are familiar with the original test and it offers a more in-depth analysis than the shorter version. These questions are based on a ten category rating of behavior that is defined to be abnormal.
The outcome of this type of test can be a false outcome if the person taking the test is not honest. “The validity scales are used to determine the outcome of the test and to determine the usefulness and accuracy of the test” That validity of the MMPI can be compared to other tests measuring the same similarities. Although, this test is designed to measure pathological characteristics, but is used for other purposes also. The reliability of the validity is questionable because of the uses this test is being assessed for. “If both the MMPI and Rorschach tests are administered as to what they were constructed for, then the validity is an average reliability” . When both of these tests are administered for different reasons other than what they are originally used for the validity is below average. This type of scale is used because not everyone who takes the test will give honest answers. A psychologist will review the results and determine the abnormal behaviors based on the patients’ personal history and background. Then the final analysis will define the mental illness or disorder that is determined.
Rorschach Inkblot Test can be given to help a patient or it can be harmful to the patient depending on interpretation and outcome. An adult comes into a psychiatry office and is given the inkblot test. The person sees the images and describes them in a negative manner. The psychologist who is scoring the answers of the inkblot test could interpret the adult as having psychotic tendencies. In reality, the same adult could take the same inkblot test administered by another psychiatrist who determines the person has depression and anxiety. “The results do not solely depend on the person taking the test, but is also determined by the administering psychologist who is analyzing the answers.” . The patient would have been misdiagnosed because two different mental health issues were found by different psychological testers.
The Rorschach test can be used to help people, but it can harm them as well. In a case where a parent is a court order to take this test to determine if they are fit to have custody of a child this could be harmful. If the client takes this assessment and does not have the imagination or ability to give the correct answers based on the scoring guidelines, then the outcome could be devastating. The test could result in the client to lose custody because his imagination was not accurate to the proper scoring of this test. The validity of this test and the psychologists who give it has a huge impact on the end result. The same answers could be given in two separate tests with two separate psychologists administering it. The outcome of the tests could be different based on the analyzation and validity of the tester and the test answers. A person who takes the Rorschach test may be found to be diagnosed with Schizophrenia. This could help the client who is taking the assessment because he was unaware that this was the illness he was suffering from. Two different scenarios could either help or hinder people who have taken the assessment. Both outcomes depend on the imagination of the inkblots and the psychologist who is administering the test. If the psychologist is not trained enough to determine the answers to this test, then the outcome could be different from someone with years of training in that field.
A clinical interview of the patient before taking the Rorschach test could be influenced regarding the findings of the administered test. If the clinical interview had shown signs of depression or other forms of issues the client was having; then the results of the inkblot test could be geared towards those interview results. The interviewer may place judgment on the client and already of an idea of the outcome before the test is administered. Once the results are reviewed the judgment would be used to determine the outcome of the test instead of the test itself. If the client interview showed signs prior to a mental illness such as Schizophrenia, then test could help to determine that illness based solely on the test. One person’s opinion or scoring could be completely different than another person’s results for the same patient.
Rorschach Inkblot Testing has been used in the past to test children of elementary school age, but the findings were not legitimate. “The results of these children were irrelevant based on the measures used to analyze these results” . The children who scored as having a form of psychological, disorder or mental illness were not completely accurate. Another testing would need to be done to conclude the findings of the inkblot test for younger kids. If the test was administered to an eight-year-old child and the results concluded there was a psychological finding, further testing would need to be done. The other testing would help determine the accuracy of the inkblot and to conclude for certain that the child did have a psychological or personality disorder.
The Rorschach test can be used to help people, but it can harm them as well. In a case where a parent is a court order to take this test to determine if they are fit to have custody of a child this could be harmful. If the client takes this assessment and does not have the imagination’s ability to give the correct answers based on the scoring guidelines, then the outcome could be devastating. The test could result in the client to lose custody because his imagination was not accurate to the proper scoring of this test. The validity of this test and the psychologists who give it has a huge impact on the end result. The same answers could be given in two separate tests with two separate psychologists administering it. The outcome of the tests could be different based on the analyzation and validity of the tester and the test answers.
The MMPI-A is used for testing 14-18 years of age. An 8-year-old may not be mature enough to take this test. If this test is administered for an 8-year-old, then the results may not be conclusive. “The MMPI-2 is used to test individual over the age 18 years old” . The Rorschach test is designed for younger children and adults. The test for children is in the standard level of response to the test. The outcome for a person age 8, 16, and 85 years old can be administered in the same manner. Although the thought processes and actions of behavior need to be considered. An 8-year-old may not have the same imaginative answers regarding the inkblot and the time it takes them to answer may be slower. This behavior is taken into consideration by the age factor. An 85-year-old may have the same issues as a child. This refers to the time it takes to answer and the interpretations they have of each picture. A 16-year-old is more mature and faster in responding generally than younger or older participants.
Reference
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