Standards for research on projective tests and child sexual abuse

Abstract

The validity of projective tests for evaluating child sexual abuse victims has not been established and remains controversial. From a critical review of available literature, the present article argues the existence of deficiencies in research in this field. From this analysis derived a methodological proposal for the design of quantitative empirical studies that seek to establish the validity of projective tests for their use with this population. This proposal, which considers the principles of scientificity, the nature of projective techniques as psychodiagnostic instruments and the complexity of the phenomenon of sexual abuse, provides an operational methodological model for the development of a comparable line of research in this field. Finally, the implications and scope of the proposal formulated are discussed.