| The Rorschach Inkblot test can be a valuable tool for the assessment of the personality of deaf individuals. This study sought to examine the effects of language and method of administration on the responses of deaf individuals to the Rorschach, with the goal of helping establish a standardized administration method and normative data for this population.;This study investigated the effects of American Sign Language, Pidgin Signed English, and Interpreted administrations of the Rorschach on deaf subjects from a postsecondary institution. Three groups of 10 subjects each were given demographic questionnaires addressing background and language style and preference; the Rorschach test; and questionnaires addressing their comfort, understanding of and by the examiner, and a rating of the signing style of the examiner or interpreter. A single examiner, who was trained to administer the test in all three conditions, completed questionnaires on each subject rating comfort, understanding, and signing style.;It was hypothesized that subjects administered the Rorschach in their native language would be more comfortable and therefore produce different Rorschach responses than subjects in a less than native language condition. The responses of the subjects on the Rorschach were examined to analyze the effects of the different language conditions on the number of Responses, Spaces, Blends, and Lambda in each protocol. No significant differences were found, but examination of the same factors by the comfort of the subjects revealed that more comfortable subjects produced significantly more Blends. It was discovered that subjects thought the examiner had a signing style similar to their own rather than as determined by the group assignment. Average responses on all Rorschach factors are reported. |
