Sentence Completion Test

Introduction

• Semi structured projective test
• Provides "stems" to the subjects
• Provide indications of attitudes, beliefs, motivations, or other mental states
• Usually administered in booklet form
• Structure of the test vary acc.to length and relative generality and wording of the sentence stems

• Hermann Ebbinghaus-invented test in 1879 to test mental ability in school children.
• Jung's word association precursor to modern SCT.
• Contemporary test-began to evolve in the late 1920's
• Arthur Payne- formal sentence completion method for personality assessment in 1928
• Alexander Tendler used the method to study emotional reactions

• Amanda Rhode did not to focus on specific aspects of personality, but use as general personality test
• current version of the test- 3 different levels
• High school, college and adult on three traits- sociability, self confidence and ambitious.

Administration

Reliability & Validity

• Most tests have 40-100 stems
• Administration could be individual or group.
• Tests are power versus speed tests. Instructions vary; express real feelings versus express first thing that comes to mind.

The Test

The test is scored on a seven point scale

• conflict (pessimism, hostility, hopelessness)
• neutral (stereotypes, catchphrases, cliches)
• positive (humor, optimism, acceptance) rating.
• It takes about 15-20mins to complete the test.

Advantages & Applications

• split half-0.72, 0.69 and 0.73
• test retest-0.76, 0.71 and 0.68
• validity- -0.66, -0.73 and -0.69

• Easy to develop and administer
• They uncover conflicted attitudes
• Used in-personality analysis,clinical applications,attitude assessment,achievement motivation,and measurement of other constructs.
• They are used in several disciplines, including psychology, management, education, and marketing

Disadvantage

• There is debate over whether or not sentence completion tests elicit responses from conscious thought rather than unconscious states.
• This debate would affect whether sentence completion tests can be strictly categorized as projective tests.

Evaluation & Interpretation

References

• Formal analysis

• Content analysis

• Research has been conducted to look at emotional development, long-term stability and feelings and ego development.

• Viewed as valuable instruments in the assessment of personality

Abt, L. E. & Bellak, B. (Eds.) (1950) Projective psychology. In H.M. Knoff (Ed.) The assessment of child and adolescent personality. New York: Guilford Press.Hammer. E. F. (1986) Graphic techniques with children and adolescents. In Rabin, A. I. (Ed.) (1986). Projective techniques for adolescents .New York: Springer Publishing.Hart, H. M. (1986). The sentence completion techniques. In Knoff, H. M. (Ed.) (1986). The assessment of adolescent personality.

Sentence Completion Test