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Sentence Completion Tests With an Empirical Foundation: A Systematic Review
Ryan Coleman1, Cassie Jennings2, Madeline Pettit2
1Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Assessment
|March 31, 2026
Summary
This review of sentence completion tests (SCTs) found evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB) and Washington University Sentence Completion Test (WUSCT) for psychological assessment.
Area of Science:
- Psychological Assessment
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Sentence completion tests (SCTs) are often misclassified as projective tests, despite their performance-based nature.
- There is ongoing interest in using SCTs with diverse clinical populations.
- This study addresses the need for a systematic review of SCT reliability and validity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the reliability and validity evidence for two prominent SCTs: the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB) and the Washington University Sentence Completion Test (WUSCT).
- To evaluate the suitability of SCTs as performance-based measures in psychological assessment.
Main Methods:
- Adherence to PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews.
- Inclusion of 51 studies meeting rigorous reliability and validity criteria.
- Focus on studies conducted in the United States.
Main Results:
- Evidence supports the reliability and validity of both the RISB and WUSCT.
- Variability in results was noted, influenced by sample characteristics (age, race/ethnicity), study context, and interpretation goals.
- SCTs are better conceptualized as performance-based measures rather than purely projective tests.
Conclusions:
- Practitioners should carefully consider sample characteristics, study context, and interpretation purpose when using RISB and WUSCT results.
- The reliability and validity of SCTs are supported, but findings require nuanced interpretation.
- SCTs offer valuable performance-based data for psychological assessment.
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