The use of projective assessment techniques in pediatric research

A variety of projective techniques are available to pediatric nurse researchers. This article focuses on four of the most frequently used projective assessment techniques in pediatric research: the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT); the Child Apperception Test (CAT); the Rorschach; and Human Figure Drawings (HFDs). Each of these techniques is described in terms of the underlying theoretical framework for its development, instructions for use with children, reliability and validity, and major findings from health care and nursing literature. Ten recommendations are provided to help nurse researchers ensure that their data meet reasonable criteria for objectivity to allow for replication of their investigations. Despite the often contradictory, inconclusive research findings, there is a role for projective techniques both in clinical practice and research.