Sentence Completion Tests: A Review of the Literature and Results of a Survey of Members of the Society for Personality Assessment

Margot Holaday · Debra Smith · Alissa R. Sherry

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Psychological Testing and Assessment Psychometric Methodologies and Testing Personality Traits and Psychology

Abstract

Test usage surveys consistently find that sentence completion tests (SCTs) are among the most popular personality assessment instruments used by practitioners. What is not noted is which SCTs practitioners are using, why these tests are so popular, and whether practitioners are using formal scoring. We surveyed a random selection of 100 members of the Society for Personality Assessment. With a 60% return rate on a single mailing, we found that most psychologists who use incomplete sentence tests use the Rotter (1951) Incomplete Sentences Blank with children (18%), adolescents (32%), and adults (47%). Most practitioners said they do not read stems aloud and record answers themselves, and even fewer said they use formal scoring. The most common reasons for using an SCT are (a) to use it as part of an assessment battery (41 endorsements), (b) to determine personality structure (18 endorsements), and (c) to elicit quotable quotes (17 endorsements). Implications for practitioners and training suggestions for academicians who prepare future psychologists are noted.

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2014Measuring Ego Development 1991Psychological test usage with adolescent clients: 1990 survey findings.1947The Incomplete Sentences Test as a method of studying personality.

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2003Four Studies Extending the Utility of the Schwartz Outcome Scale (SOS-10)2003Considerations for the Use of Sentence Completion Tests 2002Development and Validation of a Sentence Completion Test Measure of Defensive Responding in Military Personnel Assessed for Nonroutine Missions 2003Assessing Personality and Psychopathology with Projective Methods 2008Construct Validity of the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank With Clinic-Referred and Nonreferred Adolescents 2013Projective testing: Historical foundations and uses for human resources management 2012The Assessment of Psychopathology in Racial and Ethnic Minorities 2014Construct and Incremental Validity of the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank in Adult Psychiatric Outpatients

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