Challenges Since Wikipedia: The Availability of Rorschach Information Online and Internet Users’ Reactions to Online Media Coverage of the Rorschach–Wikipedia Debate

Abstract

We conducted 2 studies to assess the availability of Rorschach information online and Internet users’ attitudes since the inkblots were published on Wikipedia. In the first study, the authors conducted 2 Google searches for Web sites containing Rorschach-related information. The top 88 results were classified by level of threat to test security; 19% posed a direct threat. The authors also found Web sites authored by psychologists that divulged sensitive Rorschach information. In the second study, 588 comments to online news stories covering the Rorschach–Wikipedia debate were coded as expressing favorable or unfavorable opinions regarding the field of psychology, psychologists, and the Rorschach. Eight percent of comments described unfavorable opinions toward psychology, 15% contained unfavorable opinions toward psychologists, and 35% portrayed unfavorable opinions of the Rorschach. Common themes and popular misconceptions of the Rorschach contained in these comments are described. Implications and recommendations for practice are discussed. Limitations, including the second study's narrow sample and self-selection bias, are also detailed.

Acknowledgments

Portions of this article were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the Society for Personality Assessment in San Jose, CA.

Douglas S. Schultz is now Staff Psychologist at South Woods State Prison, Bridgeton, NJ

Notes

Resulted from searches on February 21, 2010. Number of results might vary in future searches.

Results from Google News search in August 2010. Results might vary in future searches.

The percentage of comments toward psychologists totals 99% rather than 100% due to rounding error.

The percentages of Web sites in each category totals 99%, rather than 100% due to rounding error.