Language and Adjustment Scales for the Thematic Apperception Test for Children 6-11 Years.

Abstract

This report summarizes research on the development of objectively scored language and emotionality scales for a five-card, orally administered and tape- reqorded version of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) used in the Health Examination Survey (HES) of children conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics in 1963-65. National norms for children ages 6-11 are presented for these scales. Two studies were carried out to develop the scales and national norms. Study I involved the development of scoring manuals, criterion measures, and TAT scales, as well as validation studies in which the TAT scales were treated as independent variables and the criteria as dependent variables. In that study major emphasis was placed on creation of usable scales. The sample of 1,224 cases employed was chosen on the basis of completeness and quality of TAT protocol from among the children examined in the first 19 of the 40 Iocations or "stands" in which examinations took place in the national survey.