A MULTIVARIATE STUDY OF THE SERIAL COLOR-WORD TEST

Patterns of adaptation to a conflict situation (the Stroop task) were assessed with the Serial Color-Word Test. A cluster analysis was perfo rmed on 859 protocols, adopting a six-cluster solution. A subsequent d iscriminant function analysis cross-validated the usefulness of the te st's variables in predicting the cluster assignments. The distribution of 3 different diagnostic groups (psychotic, neurotic-psychosomatic, and general population) showed significant differences across the 6 cl usters, thereby contributing to the external validation of the lest. T he 6 new complex patterns of adaptation described may now be employed in clinical research, alongside the traditional ones.