It certainly seems like much ado about nothing.
A Moose Jaw doctor, who edits medical pages on the Internet encyclopedia site Wikipedia, posted the images used for the traditional Rorschach test, used in psychological examinations. Along with the inkblot images, he also posted the most common answers people give.
The international psychiatric community was in an uproar over the postings, saying such easy accessibility to the images and most common answers could skewer results of future tests.
The implication, apparently, is that people who are scheduled for the test, could go to Wikipedia, see the images then read and memorize the most common answers. Of course, that would be a possibility. But then, perhaps the doctor could show the images in a different order, making it harder to remember the answers. Or they could throw in a dummy image to see if the person is simply regurgitating something he or she has memorized.
Or, the psychiatric community can find a newer test to use. The Rorschach test was created in 1921. Many of the images have been seen in TV shows or movies over the years.
Besides, people willing to work hard to manipulate the system will probably find a way to do that without any outside help.
Most people will probably never have to take a Rorschach test. But the majority of those who do have no intention of cheating. They are seeking a true diagnosis.
For those who will never take the test, this would be a very interesting subject to read about.
Too much uproar over test postings
- Published on August 1st, 2009
- Published on September 9th, 2009
-
Staff ~ The Moose Jaw Times Herald
- Number of views : 3709
- Rate
- Top of the page
Comments
-
- Terry B
- - September 18th, 2009 at 17:15:53
Absolutely right, much ado about nothing. So why inflame and contribute to the so-called uproar, by publishing this un-newsworthy matter?
-
- don
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:36:46
Just looked at the noted wikipedia entry - so what - the noted Doctor posted the 'common' responses.
Maybe doing so indicates that this Doctor places little credibility in this 19th century nonsense - which at best could be called - pseudoscience.
When I look at the inkblots - all I see are abstract inkblots!!
One has to have another kind of 'problem' if they think that to 'see' anything in these meaningless and abstract images - is helpful for any purpose.
One could say that this kind of interpretive test would automatically become skewed by [among variables] the mindset and related thoughts of the tester.
One might better perform this test with a deck of Tarot Cards! Spread the whole deck out open faced and have a subject choose 10 out of the 78 cards - then take these 10 cards and irrelevantly infer all sorts of vague or otherwise 'generaized' things about the subject - based on the various symbols on the 10 cards picked by the test subject.
It's as good a hypothesis - one could learn even more about test subjects with this medium! Right?
This whole inkblot practice is nonsense and one would do well to be cautious in consulting with any professionals utilizing such bogus techniques...
After studying 300 mental patients and 100 control subjects, in 1921 Rorschach wrote his book Psychodiagnostik ... [wikipedia]
How many people would take a medication developed with 300/100 test subjects? -
- J.J.
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:08:18
Psychologist getting their coat tails in a knot over this is like a mechanic taking you to court for telling someone how to use a wrench. Get over yourselves, already.
