COMPUTER-ADMINISTERED TESTING WITH THE ROTTER INCOMPLETE SENTENCES BLANK

Despite studies finding relatively small differences between computer and traditional methods of administering objective personality and cog nitive measures, no similar format equivalence research has been done for projective personality measures. The present study compares two gr oups of college students' responses to either a traditional administra tion or a computer administration of the Rotter Incomplete Sentences B lank (ISB). No differences were found for subject characteristics of a ge or gender. The groups receiving different forms of administration d iffered on the ISB maladjustment score, a global index of psychologica l difficulties, with the computer administration group exhibiting fewe r test signs of maladjustment than the traditional administration grou p. However, differences between the two forms were small and nonsignif icant after adjusting for attitudes towards computers. The findings su ggested that computer ISB administration was likely to yield a similar level of disclosure as the traditional ISB administration when noncli nical levels of maladjustment are present. Suggestions are made for fu rther research, including the use of contrasting samples and additiona l projective instruments. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd