Faculty Collaboration Database

The Barnum effect in a computerized Rorschach interpretation system. J Psychol 1990 Mar;124(2):217-22

Date

03/01/1990

Pubmed ID

2187980

DOI

10.1080/00223980.1990.10543218

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84953152261 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   12 Citations

Abstract

Twelve psychiatric outpatients were administered the Rorschach test, and results were interpreted using the Exner (1983, 1986) Report for the Comprehensive System computer-based test interpretation (CBTI) program. Four psychiatrists made accuracy ratings for both real and bogus reports for each of their patients. Data were analyzed using two-way analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs), where report type was a repeated main effect, psychiatrist was a random main effect, and the number of statements in the report was the covariate. Results indicated that this CBTI provided only 5% discriminating power for any one patient, with 60% of the interpretive statements merely describing typical characteristics of the outpatient population. No significant psychiatrist, interaction, or covariate effects were encountered.

Author List

Prince RJ, Guastello SJ

Author

Stephen Guastello BA,MA,PhD Professor in the Psychology department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders
Middle Aged
Psychiatric Department, Hospital
Psychometrics
Reproducibility of Results
Rorschach Test
Software