The Rorschach Inkblot Test in Practice

The Rorschach Inkblot Test is an iconic, well-known assessment tool consisting of 10 random patterns intended to elicit an interpretive response from the client. Many instruments assess for personality and intelligence, but no other tool measures a person's energy level, emotional control, and thought processes. For this reason, the Rorschach has been used for decades in clinical settings for such purposes as evaluating improvement, informing treatment direction, and for a better general understanding of the client.

In this video, James P. Choca provides a brief overview of the Rorschach and demonstrates administration of the instrument. In an interview with host Kathleen Bechtold, Dr. Choca uses illustrative examples from the demonstration to discuss the art of interpreting responses and other key elements for the best use of this instrument.

The Rorschach is a superb clinical instrument that may require a long time to learn, administer, score, and interpret. Those time demands, and the negative attitudes that have arisen about this test, have resulted in a decrease of the number of programs that train graduate students with the Rorschach, and a decrease in the Rorschach use in clinical settings. Adjustments are needed if the test is going to thrive in the 21st Century. Recently, Dr. Choca has argued for a reduction in the number of cards administered, for a reduction in the number of variables scored, and for a more interactive and less constrained administration.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Dr. James P. Choca obtained a PhD at Loyola University Chicago.

A distinguished instructor at Roosevelt University, Dr. Choca directed the university's first PsyD program, was the department chair for 13 years, and is currently dedicated to teaching assessment courses and doing research. His professional involvement has revolved around diagnostic work.

Dr. Choca has numerous publications on the Rorschach, the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, and the Halstead Category Test. He is also currently involved in developing a broad range questionnaire for the DSM-5.

• Choca, J. P. (2013). The Rorschach Inkblot Test: An Interpretative Guide for Clinicians. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

APA Videos

• Client-Directed Outcome-Focused Psychotherapy
  Scott D. Miller
• Evidence-Based Treatment
  Larry E. Beutler
• Integrative Therapy
  John C. Norcross
• The MMPI-2-RF in Practice
  David M. McCord
• Psychological Assessment and Case Conceptualization
  Keith S. Dobson, Pamela A. Hays, and Amy Wenzel
• Therapeutic Assessment With Adults
  Stephen E. Finn
• Using Client Feedback in Therapy
  Barry L. Duncan

APA Books

• APA Handbook of Testing and Assessment in Psychology
  Edited by Kurt F. Geisinger
• Interpretive Guide to the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, Third Edition
  By James P. Choca
• Personality Disorders: Toward Theoretical and Empirical Integration in Diagnosis and Assessment
  Edited by Steven K. Huprich
• Psychological Testing That Matters: Creating a Road Map for Effective Treatment
  Anthony D. Bram and Mary Jo Peebles
• A Student's Guide to Assessment and Diagnosis Using the ICD-10-CM: Psychological and Behavioral Conditions
  Edited by Jack Schaffer and Emil R. Rodolfa
• Using the MMPI–2 in Forensic Assessment
  James N. Butcher, Giselle A. Hass, Roger L. Greene, and Linda D. Nelson

• Assessment Using the Rorschach Inkblot Test
  

  This primer introduces readers to the fundamentals of the Rorschach inkblot test, including administration, scoring, and interpretation. The authors also present an innovative, streamlined scoring system—the Basic Rorschach—to enhance the test's clinical utility.