The Iowa Picture Interpretation Test: a multiple-choice variation of the TAT.

Abstract

IPIT) is the product of an attempt to integrate the objective and quantitative advantages of traditional paper and pencil personality measures with the so-called "depth" of projective techniques. This report is a brief account of the IPIT's methodology and presentation of its normative, reliability, and intercorrelational characteristics. Some implications of these data are discussed. Development of the IPITInterest in the IPIT was originally stimulated by the need Achievement work of the Wesleyan group. McClelland, Atkinson, Clark, and Lowell (4) have found TAT responses involving this facet of personality, as measured by trained raters employing a quasi-subjective scoring method, related to a wide variety of other behaviors. While their measuring technique may be granted to possess established utility, both the special training required to employ it competently and the appreciable interrater variability remaining between even highly skilled raters suggest the potential advantages of a more conventional and objective measure of this seemingly important personality character-1 In part this article is ran adaptation of a doctoral dissertation in the Department of Psychology, State University of Iowa. It is wished to acknowledge the substantial contributions of Drs. J. M. Daily, I. E. Farber, W. G. Dahlstrom, L. D. Goodstein, and J. G. Smith to the initial IPIT version and the formulation of the response class definitions described in this paper by Drs. Farber and Goodstein. The author gratefully acknowledges the invaluable guidance of Dr. Farber throughout all phases of the IPIT's development.

Atkinson’s Theory of Achievement Motivation: First Step Toward a Theory of Academic Motivation?

“…Attempts to alleviate this situation have been made. In particular, it may be noted that a number of objective measures of M s have been tried, such as the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (Edwards, 1954) and the Iowa Picture Interpretation Test (Hurley, 1955(Hurley, , 1957Johnston, 1957). These have not had notable success and are questionable substitutes for a projective-type measure (Atkinson & Litwin, 1960;Heekhausen, 1967).…”

Testing the convergent and discriminant validity of three implicit motive measures: PSE, OMT, and MMG

“…Because combining the different picture situations (a) with the set of statements (b) result in a grid consisting of a 9 b cells, this measurement technique is also called grid technique (Sokolowski et al 2000; see also previous grid measures, e.g., Hurley 1955).…”

Motivation Measurement

“…Two pictorial type instruments were used. The first was the Iowa Picture Interpretation Test, a multiplechoice variation of the TAT, devised by Hurley (1955). The IPIT directions require the subjects to rank the four response alternatives corresponding to each of the 10 TAT plates.…”