PROJECTIVE TEST

in psychology, examination that commonly employs ambiguous stimuli, notably inkblots (Rorschach Test) and enigmatic pictures (Thematic Apperception Test) to evoke responses that may reveal facets of the subject's personality by projection of internal attitudes, traits, and behaviour patterns upon the external stimuli. Projective tests are also used, less frequently, to study learning processes. Additional projective methods involve requiring subjects to make wooden block structures, complete sentences, paint with the fingers, or provide handwriting samples, and also the various association tests in which the stimuli are usually spoken words.