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Interpretive issues with the Roberts Apperception Test for Children: Limitations of the standardization group
Author(s) -
Bell Nancy L.,
Nagle Richard J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
psychology in the schools
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1520-6807
pISSN - 0033-3085
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-6807(199907)36:4<277::aid-pits1>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - standardization , psychology , thematic apperception test , apperception , test (biology) , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , sample (material) , test validity , psychometrics , cognitive psychology , paleontology , chemistry , political science , law , biology , chromatography
This study investigated the validity of the Roberts Apperception Test for Children (RATC) with an elementary school sample by examining the appropriateness of the standardization norms with other nonclinical samples. A sample of 86 children, ages 8–11 years, completed the RATC. Analyses revealed that the current sample of nonclinical children differed significantly from the standardization sample on six of the eight Adaptive Scales and three of the five Clinical Scales. Findings suggest that the children in this study form a separate and distinct group from the well‐adjusted children upon which the RATC scales were normed and supports previous research that suggests the standardization of the RATC is inadequate. The current findings strongly suggest that the norms for the RATC not be used for clinical diagnosis until restandardization is completed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.