Adaptation of Thematic Apperception Test in Pakistan

Abstract

Thematic Apperception Test is a widely used projective measure of personality assessment. The present research adapted 20 of the most useful TAT cards according to Pakistani culture. The cards were modified by changing the dressing and facial features of the characters showed in the pictures. The cards were given to clinical psychologists for qualitative item analysis. After the final approval both the original and adapted TAT version were applied on 54 respondents (n=34 normal and n=20 psychological patients). Nine judges interpreted TAT protocols according to Bellack’s scoring system on original as well as adapted version. Validity of the adapted version was calculated through convergence between original and adapted versions of TAT cards. Reliability was estimated through percentage of agreement among judges by inter-rater method. The validity ranged from 29.83 for card 7GF to 42.40 for card 9 BM. The average reliability ranged from 9.73 for card 18 BM to 22.79 for card 1. Although the reliability and validity indices of the newly adapted cards were generally low due to the projective nature of TAT, still the adapted version of TAT can be used in clinical settings for diagnostic purposes as well for the assessment of normal population.