The Barnum effect in a computerized Rorschach interpretation system.
Twelve psychiatric outpatients were administered the Rorschach test, and results were interpreted using the Exner (1983, 1986) Report for the Comprehensive System computer-based test interpretation (CBTI) program. Four psychiatrists made accuracy ratings for both real and bogus reports for each of their patients. Data were analyzed using two-way analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs), where report type was a repeated main effect, psychiatrist was a random main effect, and the number of statements in the report was the covariate. Results indicated that this CBTI provided only 5% discriminating power for any one patient, with 60% of the interpretive statements merely describing typical characteristics of the outpatient population. No significant psychiatrist, interaction, or covariate effects were encountered.
Department of Psychology, Marquette University.
R J
RJ
Prince
S J
SJ
Guastello
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012392:Rorschach Test; D012984:Software