Predicting clinical judgment for a primary grade apperception battery

A six-card Primary Grade Apperception Battery (three cards from the CAT and three from the SAM) was administered to one group of first grade children on a 4 month test-retest schedule and to a new group of first graders 1 year later. Two clinical psychologists read the protocols and made clinical judgments regarding home and school adjustment on a four-point scale. An initial regression formula to predict clinical judgment from objective apperception score data was derived. The formula was validated on the retest data and the new sample. The results indicate the derived apperception score reliably predicted clinical judgment. In general, the results also suggest the six card apperception battery may be a useful screening test for school and home adjustment for first and second grade children.