The intention of the test is to ask the subject to give an appreciation of his own qualities without being conscious to it. But in its wider sense, it means attributing to the external world any quality of the self. The difference between the intelligence test and the projective test is that in the former each problem has a single definite answer, but in the latter every question has more than one possible answer. The answers selected by a particular individual are distinctive expression of his own personality. There are several projection techniques in current use, of which the Rorschach Ink Blot test and Murray’s Thematic Apperception test are well known.
The Rorschach test consist of a set of ten ink blots which are shown to a person one by one. His responses are recorded on a form. A personality picture of the respondent is constructed on the basis of the kinds of responses which are recorded. Whether the response was made to the whole of the blot or to a part of it, whether the response is to coloured spots or to black patches, whether animal forms are seen or anatomical shapes, moving objects or something else — all these are taken into a count in making the personality assessment. The Thematic Apperception Test consists of a series of standard pictures, which are shown to the subject, one by one. He is then asked to write a story on each picture, stating what people are doing what led to the situation and what the outcome will be. From the stories produced by the subject, an assessment s made of the personality slants of an individual. The responses expressed in the form of stories provide valuable clues to the candidate’s emotional attitude and temperamental make-up. The aim is to find out the individual’s fantasies formed around the object-relationship. It brings to the surface fear, guilt, frustration, complex if any (e.g., inferiority complex), ambitions, interests and group tendencies.