Critical review of the TEMAS: A step within the development of thematic apperception instruments

The TEMAS (acronym for Tell-Me-a-Story)-an objectively scored, projective t hematic personality instrument for children and adolescents-is analyzed, re viewed, and critiqued with regard to theoretical underpinnings and rational e for development, administration, scoring, psychometric properties, and re search to date. The TEMAS appears to be an improvement over existing projec tive personality measures used by school psychologists. Although it require s more training than other projective techniques, competency in administrat ion, scoring, and interpretation can be achieved within a one semester cour se in personality assessment. The test has evidence of reliability and vali dity, and it is a multicultural alternative to the TAT and other thematic a pperception instruments. The use of the TEMAS by psychologists may achieve more accurate assessment of Black and Hispanic children. Limitations includ e geographically limited standardization samples and little research conduc ted by individuals other than the authors. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.