A counsellor in Pune assesses two clients. For Arjun, she uses a standard psychometric test. For Meera, she shows a few unclear pictures and asks her to tell a story about each. Which of the following correctly describes the method used with Meera, as different from the test used with Arjun?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → The responses need qualitative analysis, and the person scoring them needs rigorous training.
Option (1) The responses are scored in quantitative terms and interpreted on the basis of norms. — Incorrect. This describes structured tests such as Arjun's, where answers are counted and compared with norms. Meera's stories cannot be scored in such an objective way.
Option (2) The client is told the purpose of assessment and the method of scoring beforehand. — Incorrect. The feature is reversed. In projective techniques, the person is usually not told the purpose of assessment or the method of scoring and interpretation.
Option (3) The responses need qualitative analysis, and the person scoring them needs rigorous training. — Correct. Unclear pictures let Meera project her feelings and needs into her stories, so this is a projective technique. Such techniques cannot be scored objectively; they need qualitative analysis, and the expert needs rigorous training.
Option (4) The client must give verbal responses using some kind of rating scale. — Incorrect. Rating scales belong to self-report measures, which are fairly structured. Meera answers freely with stories, and there are no correct or incorrect responses.
NCERT (2026-27): “Projective Techniques … “(1) The stimuli are relatively or fully unstructured and poorly defined.” “(2) The person being assessed is usually not told about the purpose of assessment and the method of scoring and interpretation.” “(3) The person is informed that there are no correct or incorrect responses.” “(4) Each response is considered to reveal a significant aspect of personality. (5) Scoring and interpretation are lengthy and sometimes subjective.” “Projective techniques are different from the psychometric tests in many ways. They cannot be scored in any objective manner. They generally require qualitative analyses for which a rigorous training is needed. …” |