The Effects of Using the International Versus Comprehensive System Rorschach Norms For Children, Adolescents, and Adults

Donald J. Viglione, Luciano Giromini
2016 Journal of Personality Assessment  
Currently, there is some debate about whether to use Comprehensive System norms (CS, Exner, 2003) or the Composite International Reference Values (CIRV; Meyer, Erdberg, & Shaffer, 2007) when interpreting Rorschach Inkblot Method (RIM; Rorschach, 1921) protocols administered with the CS method. The goal of this study is to assist clinicians in making this decision by providing information about the effects of choosing one option or the other. Accordingly, the current research evaluates the
more » ... s of using the CS vs. CIRV norms with children, adolescents, and adults. First, we identified 43 variables for which the CS and the CIRV for children and adolescents differ from each other by at least a Cohen's d value of .5. Next, we evaluated whether these divergent variables are the same as those previously identified as divergent for the adult population. Results showed that for both children and adolescents, as well as for adults, relying on CS norms versus CIRV would result in interpretations that are more pathological in terms of: (a) perception and thinking, (b) psychological resources and cognitive and emotional abilities, and (c) representations of human relationships. A discussion on the clinical effects of utilizing one versus the other set of norms follows.
doi:10.1080/00223891.2015.1136313 pmid:26829463 fatcat:uirwrkkzo5d6jct5bnakmrbj3e