Background of the study
The aim of the
study was to explain and reveal the use of
projective technique (Rorschach
Affective Ratio) on explaining the frequency of response elicitation and its relationship on the political behavior of Israeli towards peace process. A small number of 26 Samples where chosen from six large Israeli schools. It was revealed by the Rorschach Affective
Ratio that the
participants who acquired lower Affective ratio are more supportive of the peace process in the Middle East that with those who obtained higher Affective ratio.
Discussion and Analysis
The study uses Rorschach Projective
test that includes the process of using colors and figures on measuring the response excitement and affective sides of the participant. It is said that the employment of colors in perceiving the figures would reveal the emotional excitability of the person and thus the color perception would explain the affective responses of the participant. And through the process of the experiment and from the results of the study it was concluded that the individuals who were more supportive scored higher on the affective ratio than those who are less supportive. It also explained how the mental experience of an individual could affect his/her attitudinal system. The study shows how the cognitive structure of a person gives a big part on determining his/her political attitudes and evaluation.
I find the study very intriguing knowing the fact that it focuses on the “political attitude” and is quite different from the usual emotional situation that I commonly encounter on my readings and researches. It is relatively unusual in nature because its aim was to elucidate the relationship of mental experiences in explaining the “political behavior” of the person.
I would like to commend regarding the whole study perse especially on the methodology and procedures that was done by the researchers. Though the study is very good in general and the results are clearly explained there are some points that make me think about its consistency. First and foremost, the methods (samples and instruments) in this study are not that appealing for me. Why did I come up with this reaction? Well knowing the fact that the samples are too small, they were chosen using the convenience sampling technique, and the mere application of colors and figures on getting the attitude of the participants perhaps is not enough to explain their political attitudes. Though Rorschach‘s nature comprises a small number of participants I am still uncertain of using such a few number of participants on measuring behavior. Though projective test administration is too expensive I think a total of 26 participants would fill in giving a descriptive evaluation about the political behavior of Israelis. In a way I don’t think that the Use of Rorschach Test is reliable in the study. But I am not saying that it should be eliminated in the study perhaps some psychological test would compensate for its shortcomings.
For me Rorschach has its own strength and weaknesses on explaining the mental condition of a person and its utilization in the study has its gain and downside. Rorschach consists of a series of ink blots that are presented to the person with a request to tell what he/she sees. The responses constitute to the respondent''s total
personality and character. But why should such perceptions of ink blots give a powerful picture of ones mental life and attitude? As a non professional I would actually commend that the use of Rorschach in the study is less reliable. On the contrary, there are reasons behind its purpose. Woet al. on the article
“What''s Wrong with the Rorschach? Science Confronts the Controversial Inkblot Test” have explained why Rorschach seems is also a reliable test. According to Wood et al. (2003) “the reasons lie in psychoanalytic theory, which hold that unconscious motivations, unique to an individual, govern our every perception”. The unconscious level of the person would gradually reveal his/her actual way of thinking.
Moreover, Rorschach knowing that it is a projective-technique it is unstructured/free/creative tasks that may appeal more on some people, and a more revealing or interesting data could be obtained. This could be seen on the result of the study revealing how the unconscious level of responses could actually reveal ones attitude. It was found out that those who were experiencing difficulty in expressing their emotion tend to respond more frequently to the stimuli unlike those who do not internalize feelings. Though at first I find it’s hard to believe that Rorschach would be valid on explaining and getting the attitudinal system of the participants. I am clear now that it is also useful and valid in the study and the researchers have their own explanation of using such kind of projective test.
More summaries about the The affective dimension of response elicitation data: a projective measure