Problems of Validities

Abstract

In this chapter, I shall not attempt to review all the issues of validity of projective tests and the evidence relevant thereto. (That would take several volumes, rather than a chapter. One can summarize the literature briefly as follows: There are hundreds of articles on projective techniques which show them to be valid and hundreds of articles demonstrating them to be invalid.) Rather it is my intention to discuss some issues of validity both in clinical and research uses, to point out some of the considerations in the appropriate use of projective techniques in both settings, and to describe some of the common misconceptions which have led to confusion, conflicting evidence, and inappropriate conclusions.