projective device

n. This is a personality test that is based on the projective hypothesis, which states that when presented with unfamiliar stimuli that are prone to a variety of interpretations, an individual will interpret the stimuli on the basis of his/her own needs, feelings, experiences, prior conditioning, thought processes, and so on. It may be noted that even though what a subject sees is assumed to be a reflection of personal qualities or characteristics, some responses may be more revealing than others. For example, if a person gives a very obvious typical response, less will be gained than if someone gives a very atypical response. The reliability and validity of these types of devices are questionable, and as with any test, they should only be used in conjunction with other measures as one piece of a comprehensive assessment. The Rorschach is perhaps the most widely known projective device, and the Thematic Apperception Test is also often used. – EF