The Kinetic Family Drawing Technique: A Review of the Literature

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This article is a review of the research on the Kinetic Family Drawing. Technique (KFD; Barns & Kaufman, 1970) in the areas of reliability, normative findings, cultural influences, and validity. The review is critical, of studies that emphasize single KFD signs and the use of a single interpretation for each of a series of signs, Instead, the. authors emphasize the need for more sophisticated studies that utilize a holistic, integrative approach to interpretation. The article also discusses the existence of significant age, race, and culturally related differences in KFD performance and stresses the need for more detailed normative data in these areas. In addition, the authors stress the importance of research that focuses on the interpretive approach of the clinician using the KFD technique, rather than on the KFD, per se.