The Kahn Test of Symbol Arrangement: Clinical Manual

Abstract

The purpose of a psychological test is to obtain a sample of the test subject's (S's) habitual reaction pattern from which his future behavior can be predicted. Prediccability is hampered by the facc that the reactions of the person who takes the test depend, to a large measure, on his individual interprecacion of the symbolic components of the test's stimulus materials. Psychological test instruments differ in the proportion of sample to symbol weighted factors which they contain. Both elements are present in all tests and they sometimes overlap to the extent thac they are virtually indistinguishable from each other. Perhaps it is for this reason thac the samplesymbol aspect of test content has been so inadequately treated by students of psychological methodology. A review of the literature reveals a lack of lucidiry on this topic and little evidence of awareness that there is a problem. Yet the issue of symbol versus sample loading should be a fundamental consideration of every test constructor. Samples of behavior tell us how a person may act in the future buc they do not tell us why. Prediction based on samples assumes validity only to the extent that human behavior is consistent, but in the area of personality this is a precarious thesis. The manner of presenting the test, the setting in which the cesting takes place, the S's reaction to the tester, and his feelings of the 'On duty with United Stares Air Force. Address correspondence c/o Psychological Test