Kahn Test Research Articles

Downward Rigidity in Householdss Price Expectations: An Analysis Based on the Bank of Japan's 'Opinion Survey on the General Public's Views and Behavior'

This paper investigates the characteristics of households’ inflation expectations using the micro‐data of the Opinion Survey on the General Public’s Views and Behavior conducted by the Bank of Japan. The results of the Kahn test indicate the existence of strong downward rigidity in households’ price expectations. One consequence of this downward rigidity is that survey answers strongly react to shocks to inflation expectations in a high inflation environment, but only weakly in a low inflation environment. Furthermore, this downward rigidity may hide potential links between inflation expectations and other economic indicators and may produce spurious correlations between them. To overcome these problems, this paper adjusts the distribution of survey answers on inflation expectations for downward rigidity. Using this adjusted distribution, the paper examines the relationships between households’ inflation expectations and their views on various economic issues. The main results are as follows. From the end of 2005 onward, a negative correlation between households’ inflation expectations and their outlook for economic conditions can be observed. Regarding the activities of the Bank of Japan, the following relationships can be observed from 2006. First, the more strongly households are interested in the Bank’s activities, the more stable are their inflation expectations. And second, the more confidence households have in the Bank, the more tightly are their inflation expectations anchored.

Unconscious cathexis of dream symbols as measured by the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement.

This study measured unconscious cathexis and conscious association with dream content, using the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement (KTSA), with subjects reporting recurring, past-recurring, and nonrecurring dreams. Unconscious cathexis of dream content was noted for recurring dreamers; conscious association with dream content was not. The results suggest that the KTSA is a valuable instrument for the empirical study of unconscious processes and that the contents of recurring dreams are particularly salient in a dreamer's unconscious.

The Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement: a suggested index for specific learning disabilities.

An index for specific learning disabilities of six signs or symptoms, taken as a group, is described. Preliminary work encourages cross-validation.

The symbolic relationship of breast cancer patients to their cancer, cure, physician, and themselves.

This study examined the type of unconscious relationship patients had to their cancer and the extent to which the cancer exhibited its presence through the unconscious of the patients. Before having breast biopsies, 146 tumor patients, between the ages of 17 and 90, were given the Kahn test of symbol arrangement and the lifeline tests. Results of the study using a multivariate analysis of variance that covaried age supported the hypothesis that the presence of a malignant tumor was exhibited prior to biopsy through the unconscious of the patients. Second, compared to the benign tumor patients, the malignant tumor group unconsciously expressed their cure as being more remote. The results suggest that patients whose cancer was expressed through their unconscious before diagnosis may expect to die, despite medical advances which show that early breast cancer detection leads to greater chance of cure. Implications for psychotherapeutic interventions working with patients' belief systems are discussed.

Auditory Learning Disabilities and Emotional Disturbance: Diagnostic Differences

Children with auditory learning disabilities are typically characterized by teachers as inattentive, unaware, limited in ability to comprehend or follow directions, and often giving irrelevant responses. Their difficulties with auditory language processing tend to be viewed as symptoms of poor attitude, lack of motivation, or emotional disturbance. This paper is concerned with an identification of conceptual functioning as an avenue of differentiating between auditory processing problems and primary ego development difficulties within the context of appropriate instructional/remediation strategies. A number of parameters were investigated with normal control children, and the data were analyzed in terms of multivariate and univariate analyses of variance. The results indicated that (1) auditory processing difficulties and ego dysfunctions are dissimilar p.roblems along the dimension of conceptualization; (2) the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement (KTSA) was able to significantly distinguish between auditory learning disabled and emotionally involved children; and (3) differential educationa strategies are clearly indicated.

Characteristics of Extreme Ktsa Scorers

In a cross-validational study of the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement (KTSA) 104 female and 65 male college students were given the KTSA individually and the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule. Subjects scoring in the top 27 % of KTSA scoring categories were called the high scorers, and those scoring in the bottom 27%, low KTSA scorers. Their scores on the Edwards schedule were compared using Student's t tests. Among the findings were that people who give B responses on the KTSA may be very different from people who give C responses. An abnormally high number of C scores is associated with lower autonomy scores, the need for people (higher affiliation scores), and the need for orderliness (higher order scores) when compared to the group having a few C scores. An abnormally high number of B scores is associated with the denial of the need for people (higher autonomy scores) and the avoidance of order (lower order scores) when compared to subjects having few B scores. There is a flavor of defiance and rebelliousness in the high B scorer which is rejected by the high C scorer.

Use and Evaluation of the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement (KTSA): Partial Summary through October, 1979: I. Published Papers

92 references to published papers on the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement are listed, originating from a literature search and letters sent annually for the past ten years to some 1,500 users of record.

Use and Evaluation of the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement (KTSA): Partial Summary through October, 1979: II. Theses and Reviews

33 references to theses and reviews are listed. These report work with the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement. They originated from a literature search and replies to letters sent to some 1,500 users of record.

Venereal syphilis in tropical Africa.

A steady decline in the incidence of positive results to the Kahn test is reported in Malawian patients during the period 1968-75. Other studies have shown that the incidence of early and late syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa has dropped considerably over the past few decades. The number of reported cases of early syphilis in certain urban areas, however, appears to be high. It is suggested that the downward trend in the incidence of syphilis in Africa is related to the increased and often indiscriminate use of penicillin.

Effect of diazepam and chlorpromazine on memory functions in man

The effect of a single oral dose of diazepam 10 mg or chlorpromazine 25 mg on memory in man was examined in a double-blind study, each drug being crossed-over against placebo, with 20 subjects for each drug. Kahn's Test for Symbol Arrangement and a paired association-learning task were used for assessment of acquisition, storage and retrieval, and state-dependency effects. A flicker-fusion test, two coordination tests, and a choice reaction task were used to evaluate alertness in the subjects. Diazepam significantly impaired acquisition, but slightly facilitated recall. Reaction time was shortened after acute diazepam treatment and coordination was impaired after two weeks treatment with diazepam. Acute treatment with chlorpromazine did not change memory or psychomotor performance.

The Kahn test of symbol arrangement and criminality

Two groups of male Ss--33 incarcerated criminal recidivists and 33 trainees in a work placement bureau--were tested on two versions of the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement (KTSA). These were the original KTSA, which used the free responding technique, and a modified KTSA, which used the forced-choice responding technique. The groups were equated for average age and sociocultural status and did not differ in their intellignece scores. The results showed that the criminals scored significantly lower than their controls on the original KTSA with a symbol-pattern characterized by repetitive and concrete types of responses. The groups did not differ on the modified KTSA. The discriminative power of the free responding technique of the KTSA proved to be superior to that of the forced-choice in the area of identifying criminal recidivists.

Performance of criminals and neurotics on the Kahn test of symbol arrangement.

The diagnostic power of the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement (KTSA) in differentiating between criminals and neurotics was examined. Three groups of males--30 incarcerated criminal recidivists, 30 neurotics, and 30 trainees in a work-placement bureau--were given the KTSA and an intelligence test. The groups were equated for age and socioeconomic status. Qualitative differences between the symbol-patterns of the criminals and the neurotics were noted. The KTSA scores of the two groups differed from those of the control group but not from each other.

Responses of disturbed adolescent on the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement.

Responses to the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement (KTSA)by 22 adolescents in residential treatment center and 22 adolescents living at home were examined for differential reactions in 6 scoring classifications. The disturbed group did not differ in the relationships of objects in their arrangements, in objects liked and disliked, or in numbers of objects grouped by category. Reasons given for their arrangements by several members of the disturbed group held pathological implications, and significant differences were found between the two groups in the directional consistency in their arrangements. The kinds of objects sorted into good, bad, and hate by both boys and girls in the disturbed group differed significantly from the norms. It was concluded that level of symbolization, consistency in arranging, and the kinds of objects sorted into the categories should be useful in the assessment and treatment of adolescent problems.

Note on the Frequency of a “No Reason” (B) Score on Arrangement I of the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement (KTSA)

Shezrn and Warrcn (1967) ~uggerred char perroos who givc 3 00 rmron response (scared B) for rheir rearon for Arrangement I of rhe KTSA are to be conaidcred unusual io the sense [hat they differ from the oorm. From rhe expenencer of the senior author. ir is more usual aod rearanable for a prron to give a B-scored rerpoose to Arrangcmenr 1 of rhe KTSA since no directions have been given previously ro the S for ways in which hc should pursue rhc rnrk of arranging the obiear. We wished ro ooveroprr rwo problems: (1) Do nonparhological Sr give a B-scored rerponre to Arrangcmeor I more often than orher kiodr of responses? (2) Whar happens ro chis and/or orhet hod, of re;ponrer ro Arrangement I oa a larrr rerriog with the KTSA? The finr of the KTSAr were given to 50 male Sr and KTSA prorocolr were examined. (We had available five KTSA prufrlcr dooe in conrmtive test rerrioor raoging aver a period of approximately 8 ma.) The mean age of there Sr war 26 yr. (SD = 6.14) and the mean rducatian was 13.3 yr. (SD = 2.78). The composite symbol profile for all 50 Sr war 91.98-ZYXECFBD. Of there 50 Sr. 20 gave B scorer. 16 gave E scorer. 3 gave F rcocer, 3 eve Z scorer, and 8 gave a mixrure of E, F, or XE. Y, E. and ZE responses. Ir appeared therefore that the arc majorirg of Sr gave either a B or E response to Arrangement I. To determine if this behavior could bc considered a chsracrerirtic of S, his fifth KTSA prorocol was examined for the score obrained on rcaroo for Arrangemenr I. Of [he 20 Ss whore first rcrr score on Acrnnpmenr I war B. 9 had changed this ro some orhcr scoring coregory. Of the 16 Ss whore initial KTSA Arrangement I score war E, only 3 showed a change. Gnrequeody, one onnot iurdfy arrumiog rhar rhe B scoring caregory ir unuruol for a normal S or a parhogoomooic feature of rigidiry aod/or unwillingness to change, when he has been givco some indicnrion char he will be quesriooed for his reason far arraoging rhe vzrious items. Furrher work is rcquired on this before ooe can accept either the hypothesis of Shearn and Warren or rhe speculation of rhe present auchorr rhar it is in fact more rearaoable ro nssume S may give a B scoring response ro Arrangement I of rhe KTSA.

Identifying habitual criminals by means of the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement.

Identifying habitual criminals by means of the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement.

A Determination of the Symbolic Meanings of the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement Objects

Summary This study was undertaken to determine the validity of the postulated common meanings for the KTSA symbols using the semantic differential to determine empirically Ss' reactions to the KTSA symbol objects. These responses were then used to confirm Kahn's postulated “popular meanings for the symbols. The connotative meanings for the KTSA symbols were determined by the semantic differential ratings of 48 male and 48 female preadolescents. The findings confirmed Kahn's postulated meanings for some of the symbol, while others only partially confirmed and still others were not confirmed at all. The semantic differential ratings were statistically significant 260 out of 336 possible times. The interpretive meaning of the results is discussed.

Male drug addiction and the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement.

The present study attempted to evaluate the usefulness of the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement (KTSA) for assessing the degree of character disturbance in drug addicts. The KTSA and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) were administered to 40 addicts at the drug unit of the New Jersey Neuro-psychiatric Institute over a 2-mo. period. Evaluation of both semi-objective variables tapping cognitive-associative functioning and objective factors assessing more dynamic features was made. The composite symbol pattern for 40 Ss showed a close correspondence with that determined by past research for “character and behavior disorder” and the resulting diagnosis indicated little discrepancy from that obtained through psychiatric interviewing. The more clinical features of the KTSA generally support the diagnosis of characterological disturbance. In several cases it was felt that neurosis (obsessive-compulsive) and underlying schizophrenic process were more appropriate diagnoses. However, both quantitative and qualitative examination of KTSA performance showed consistently strong trends typically found in most drug addicts.

Large-scale screening by the automated Wassermann reaction.

In view of the drawbacks in the use of the Kahn test for large-scale screening of blood donors, mainly those of human error through work overload and fatiguability, an attempt was made to adapt an existing automated complement-fixation technique for this purpose. This paper reports the successful results of that adaptation.

Note on the categorization, recall and preference of KTSA objects by "aggressive" and "non-aggressive" prisoners.

Public opinion of criminals is often based upon the rype of crime for which they were convicted by the courts. This study investigated differences between and non-aggressive'' male criminals, as defined from a common sense, public type of judgment. Fifty male prisoners convicted of acts seemingly involved with aggressive behavior toward another person (murder, rape, robbery) were compared to 50 male prisoners convicted of less aggressive acrs (fictitious check writing, larceny, indecent liberties, burglaries, receiving stolen goods) in terms of their responses to a portion of the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement (KTSA; Kahn, 1956, 1957). If, indeed, these two groups have different personality characteristics which motivate their different types of criminal activities, this should be exhibited in the KTSA through the following variables: the number of objects sorted into the negative categories of HATE, BAD and DEAD as contrasted to the number of objects sorted into the more positive categories of LOVE, GOOD and LIVING. The major assumption of this approach is that aggressive criminals would more often place objects on the negative categories than would non-aggressive ones who would more often place objects in the positive categories. Similarly, the more aggressive criminal may be less inclined to show a preference for the heart object (since this is generally viewed as a positive affect symbol in the American culture). A further speculation is that, since the aggressive group committed more serious crimes (as indicated often by their lengths of sentence), the underlying personality is perhaps more pathological than with persons in the non-aggressive group who have committed what are considered less serious crimes. Individuals convicted of aggressive crimes then may show a deficit in their recall of previous arrangements of objects as a result of what may be intrusions stemming from lack of control over ongoing thought processes. When data were analyzed, the results indicated no significant differences existed between the two groups, i.e., on the KTSA variables investigated, the aggressive and nonaggressive convicts (as defined essentially by a social-legal viewpoint) did not differ. Subsequent research seeking clues as to the nature of personality differences motivating different criminal activities should consider the possibility that criteria other than those used in this study should be used to define aggressiveness and non-aggressiveness.

Signs of creativity on the Kahn test of symbol arrangement.

In a pilot study 14 signs of creativity were tentatively identified on the Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement. Finding an adequate measure of creativity suitable for use as a criterion proved difficult. The signs are presented for exploration by those interested in creativity studies.