Sentence Completion Tests

SENTENCE COMPLETION TEST: INTRODUCTION: Herman Von Ebbinghaus is generally credited with developing the first sentence completion test in 1897 . Sentence completion tests are a class of semi-structured projective techniques. A sentence completion test form may be relatively short, such as those used to assess responses to advertisements, or much longer, such as those used to assess personality. A long sentence completion test is the Forer Sentence Completion Test, which has 100 stems. The responses are believed to provide indications of attitudes, beliefs, motivations, or other mental states.

There is debate over whether or not sentence completion tests elicit responses from conscious thought rather than unconscious states. This debate would affect whether sentence completion tests can be strictly categorized as projective tests. In recent decades, sentence completion tests have increased in usage, in part because they are easy to develop and easy to administer. Another reason for the increased usage of sentence completion tests are because they uncover conflicted attitudes.

The uses of sentence completion tests include personality analysis, clinical applications, attitude assessment, achievement motivation, and measurement of other constructs. They are used in several disciplines, including psychology, management, education, and marketing. Sentence completion measures have also been incorporated into non-projective applications, such as intelligence tests, language comprehension, and language and cognitive development tests DESCRIPTION OF THE TEST: Sacks sentence completion test is a semi structured test consisting of 60 incomplete phrases/sentences, ex. my mother’ or when I see the boss coming, I ‘ The test typically provide respondents with beginnings of sentences, referred to as “stems,” and respondents then complete the sentences in ways that are meaningful to them. As a semi -structured test , it is expected to provide valuable information about subject’s interpersonal relations with others as well as attitude towards self and others. ADMINISTRATION AND INSTRUCTIONS : The subject was invited into a room free of noise and disturbance and was made to sit comfortably.

The test instructions and purpose of the test were explained and all her anxieties and questions regarding test were clarifies before administering the test. The instructions for the test have been printed on the answer sheet which was provided to the subject. The instructions include: “You will find below a number of incomplete sentences. Write quickly in the blank space the first idea that comes to your mind to complete each statement. Answer rapidly”. SCORING: The questions in the questionnaire are divided into four areas such as family areas, sex area, interpersonal relationships and self concept.

Each main area is again further sub divided , basing on the attitude towards certain people like attitude towards father, mother, family etc. and fears etc. The different questions in the questionnaire have been related to one of the main areas. Each questions was then analyzed qualitatively and a positive or negative attitude was recorded and interpreted. INTERPRETATION: 1)Attitude towards family: The person’s profile indicates that she has relatively positive and good attitude towards her mother whereas relatively negative attitude towards her father.

She wants her father to be a little more caring and responsible. Her attitude towards the family is also positive. 2)attitude towards sex: The person has a positive attitude towards women in general and towards heterosexual relationships. 3) Interpersonal relationships: She has a slightly negative attitude towards superiors at work place and school. She knows her responsibilities and has a caring attitude towards the people at work. The person has good interpersonal relationships with colleagues or friends at work or school. The person was also found to have many fears. She has a fear of driving, spirits, and heights.

At times she is even compelled to do against her wishes because of the fear associated. 4)self concept: The person is also guilty of some mistakes in the past for which she feels responsible . She has a positive attitude and belief towards her abilities. She has a good positive attitude and hope for the future. She wants to prove herself in future. OVERALL THE PRESON HAS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD FAMILY EXCEPT TOWARDS HER FATHER AND HAS A POSTIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE AND SELF AND HER FUTURE FAMILY COUSELING IN THE SPECIFIC AREA MAY HELP HER TO PERFORM BETTER IN HER FUTURE.