Effects of type of target, cognitive ability, and age on projection

It was hypothesized that older and more cognitively developed children would be less likely to use both attributive and contrast projection. Real and ambiguous target figures were used to assess the effect of the type of target on projection. 30 boys and 31 girls between the ages of 7 yr., 10 mo. and 14 yr., 10 mo. predicted a favored classmate's preferences in each of several categories. They also predicted the preferences of an unfavored classmate and of favored and unfavored ambiguous targets. These predictions were compared with the subjects' own preferences to measure attributive and contrast projection. Type of target affected the amount of projection. There was significantly more contrast projection onto ambiguous targets (dolls) than onto real targets (classmates). There was significantly more attributive than contrast projection for the real targets only. A significant negative correlation of -.26 (df = 59) was obtained between age and contrast projection onto the real targets. There were no significant correlations between the other measures of projection and the indices of cognitive ability, including age.