Comparisons between the Apperceptive Personality Test and the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory: A validation study

The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is complicated to administer, contains cards with outdated stimulus properties, renders comparisons based on different card selections difficult, and gives rise to unsatisfactory scoring systems. A new apperceptive instrument, the Apperceptive Personality Test (APT), was designed to remedy many of the problems associated with the TAT. For example, the APT uses a standard set of updated cards and an objective rating scale filled out by the subject. This validation study compares certain variables on the APT with specific scales on the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory (SCII), a well-respected vocational interest test often used as a personality measure.;The SCII and the APT were administered to 99 female and 101 male undergraduates. Their scores on the two tests were compared. The study hypothesized positive correlations between the SCII score for the Enterprising variable and the APT scores for Initiation of Actions, Leadership, Hostile Feelings, Hostile Actions, Successful, and Average Outcome variables. The study hypothesized inverse correlations between the SCII score for Introversion/Extroversion and the APT scores for Initiation of Actions, Leadership, Successful, and Average Outcome. The study hypothesized positive correlations between the SCII score for Investigative and APT scores for Smart and Capable; a negative correlation was hypothesized between the SCII score for Investigative and the APT score for Initiation of Actions. Positive correlations were hypothesized between the SCII score for Academic Comfort and the APT scores for Smart and Capable. An exploratory study that correlated selected SCII measures with all possible APT measures was also done.;The study found significant correlations in the expected direction for each hypothesis, although, in some cases, correlations were found for only one gender. Significant positive correlations were found between the SCII score for Enterprising and the APT scores for Leadership and Average Outcome for females; between the SCII score for Investigative and the APT scores for Smart and Capable for males; between the SCII score for Investigative and the APT score for Smart for females; between the SCII score for Academic Comfort and the APT scores for Smart and Capable for males; and between the SCII score for Academic Comfort and the APT score for Smart for females. The proposed inverse correlation between the SCII score for Introversion/Extroversion and the APT score for Average Outcome was found for males. The exploratory study generated ten new relationships for future research.