Rorschach Comprehensive System Data for a Sample of 357 Portuguese Children at Five Ages

Abstract

Eighteen examiners, well trained in the Comprehensive System (CS; Exner, 2003), administered the Rorschach to 357 Portuguese children, in the first through fifth grades, attending schools located in Lisbon and the surrounding neighborhood. Coding was done by 5 of the examiners, each one having more than 5 years of experience with the CS. For this study, coding was reviewed by the authors. Five records were randomly selected from each age group to assess intercoder reliability. Janson and Olsson's (2004) iota was used to assess reliability of the main variable categories. Results are high, with iota ranging from 0.87 to 0.98 across the coding categories. CS variables are presented and key data were chosen and reviewed. A discussion of some data and their comparison with corresponding American data are made, permitting some interesting developmental and cross-cultural questions to be addressed.

Notes

¹Here we just want to call attention to this difference between the high FQ level found in American children, from 5 years old on, and the low FQ level of same-aged European children. This latter level grows up to attain the adult level, which is close to the one that American children attain at 5 years of age. In other words, it is not clear why XA% is not a developmental variable in the United States as it clearly is in Europe. It is not enough to attribute the reason to cross-cultural factors, a null and void explanation.