No abstract

Projective tests are examined in the light of information theory, decision theory, and computer-simulation techniques. It is argued that (a) more attention needs to be paid to stimulus variables and that decision theory offers an approach to stimulus definition, (b) a different interpretative tactic is implied by decision theory, and (c) the problem of criterion definition is reopened in the light of decision theory. A simple cognitive model based on computer-simulation approaches is presented in order to demonstrate how an informational analysis might cope with projective responses.

The Bender-Gestalt was given following the Canter Background Interference Procedure (BIP) to 40 schizophrenics divided into paranoid-nonparanoid and processreactive sub-categories. Nonparanoids performed significantly poorer under BIP conditions than under standard procedure. Paranoids performed equally well under both conditions. Comparison with Canter's brain-damaged Ss indicated that process nonparanoid schizophrenics resemble brain-damaged Ss using this procedure.Canter (1 966) has presented evidence that the performance of brain-damaged subjects on the Bender-Gestalt test is significantly impaired when the test items are drawn against a distracting background of wavy lines. He has called this modification the Background Interference Procedure (BIP). The BIP is of conceptual interest because it changes the Bender-Gestalt from a simple copying task to one with strong attentional components.Silverman (1 964) and McGhie (1969) have marshalled evidence that schizophrenia, particularly if one excepts paranoid schizophrenia, is basically an attentional disorder. If so, nonparanoid schizophrenics should show the same kind of deterioration under BIP conditions as do braindamaged patients. However, Canter (1966) found that a group of psychotic patients showed significantly less deterioration in performance than a braindamaged group, under BIP conditions. Of his psychotic patients 22 of 38 were diagnosed as schizophrenic reactions, but were not further differentiated.This study explores the hypothesis that nonparanoid schizophrenics will perform more poorly on a task with attentional distraction than on one without. In this they should differ from paranoid schizophrenics but resemble the braindamaged.

15 autistic children were matched with normals on the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-motor Integration. The two groups were subsequently compared on ability to (1) increase geometric figure-copying performance using additional information provided during subsequent trials, (2) make figure-ground resolutions, (3) perform a fine motor integration task, and (4) cope with background interference while responding on the Developmental Test of Visual-motor Integration. The primary deficit observed in the autistic subjects appeared to be defective monitoring of the motor response.

PROBLEMA source of discouragement concerning personality tests is the low validity coefficients generally obtained. As Cronbach and Gleser state, "Tests of leadership social and emotional adjustment, or creativeness rarely boast validity coefficients beyond .30."(3. P. 32) It has been argued previouslyc8) that personality items, even when they are objective questionnaire items, are particularly susceptible to the effects of the testing situation and irrelevant personal characteristics of the testtaker, since it was found that the tendency t o acquiesce had a significant influence on the validity of a predictor of adjustment to flying training. The present study is an attempt to define another personality factor influencing the validity of measures of adjustment.The direction of investigation was influenced by Ey~enck's(~) evidence that there are two primary independent dimensions of personality, a neuroticism factor reflecting degree of adjustment, and an introversion-extraversion factor reflecting type of adjustment. The introversion-extraversion dimension has also been called the psychasthenia-hysteria dimension, and this latter designation will be used in this article. The introvert, or psychasthenic, is described as neat, careful or accurate, tending t o worry, and using intellectualization as a primary defense mechanism. The extravert, or hysteric, has been characterized as impulsive, careless or unaccurate, tends to avoid the expression of unpleasant thoughts or emotions, and uses denial as a primary defense.Possibly these characteristics have an influence on response tendencies in a testing situation. Perhaps the psychasthenic is more likely than the hysteric to admit negative feelings; perhaps in a situation where test scores could have an adverse effect on the subject's career the hysteric might be more careless, and thus less consistent in his attempts to "fake good".Personality and performance tests, as well as criteria of adjustment, had been collected on a large number of Air Force flying personnel as part of a pilot selection research program. These data made possible an investigation of the hypothesis that personality traits are related to test validity. They also limited the scope of the study, in that, of the traits which have been said to define the hysteria-psychasthenia dimension, a measure of only one, the aspect of carefulness or accuracy, was derivable from the data. Therefore, the specific question raised in this study was whether degree of accuracy on a paper-and-pencil test (the McKinney Reporting Test) would be related to the validity of two tests predicting adjustment (the MMPI and Cornell Index). PROCEDURE Subjects.Two samples were used in this study. One waa used to ascertain whether a relationship existed between test validity and personality type, and the second was used to validate the relationship.Sample 1 consisted of 744 air cadets, in pilot training at Graham Air Base, Mariana, Florida in 1954-55. A large number of training level data were factor analyzed, and two factors whic...