Our Mission
Psychodiagnostics explores and develops new methods of psychological testing to measure and understand individual differences in cognition, values, and personality.
Psychodiagnostics aims to provide a wide range of innovative tests at a single site.
Evaluation and Appraisal of Unconscious Processes and Representations
Psychodiagnostics specializes in instruments that appraise or reflect unconscious processes and representations. Processes and representations are termed “unconscious” when the respondents are unaware of them and they are significant to their behavior or mental attitude. Like dreams,
unconscious processes and representations escape easy verbal formula because they may arise from complex emotions or affects, or find expression in mental images or physical sensations, or are incompatible with one’s self image or social values. Traditionally, the tests and measures that address unconscious processes and representations are termed “projective tests”. Projective tests include the Rorschach, Thematic Apperception Test, Children’s Apperception Test, and a host of other measures. These tests differ from paper and pencil tests and self-report measures by inviting responses “outside the box”. Projective tests permit original responses that convey the uniqueness of the person.
The Music Apperception
Test
Psychodiagnostics publishes the Music Apperception Test
(MAT) for applications in counseling, clinical psychology, education, and
research.
The Music Apperception Test
(MAT) is something new to the world of psychological assessment. The MAT employs
music specially composed to elicit basic emotions. Respondents are asked to
“tell stories to the music”. The test combines the wide scope of projective
measures with the precision of performance testing. Performance is strictly
timed. Instructions are prerecorded to eliminate variability among examiners.
The standard test samples the entire range of basic emotions and takes
approximately 21 minutes to administer. The Short Form (A or B) takes about 9
minutes.
Test administration
requires an audio playback and recording device. Responses are transcribed and
response latencies are noted. The modal length of compositions is 74 seconds
followed by standard 30 second silent periods. Since time intervals available
for response are limited, the median length of adolescent and adult responses to
individual compositions varies around 80 words –with a wide range of individual
differences. Therefore, the modal transcription length for the Standard Test is
about 800 words and for the Short Form (A or B), only 320 words.
When the MAT is added to
standard paper-and-pencil and tests, examiners may have far more confidence in
assessment results. Paper-and-pencil tests tend to correlate with one another
because they make use of common skills, interpretation of instructions, and
respondents’ adoption of a frame of reference appropriate to the
paper-and-pencil task. In particular Self-report questionnaires rely upon these
skills along with strong emphasis upon the respondent’s implicit understanding
and endorsement of social definitions and norms. Paper-and-pencil tests provide
only a limited, highly selected perspective of individual dynamics and
personality.
The MAT provides a rigorous
complementary form of assessment unconstrained by the limitations of
paper-and-pencil testing. Respondents are free to structure responses in a wide
variety of ways. The standardized setting provides the examiner an opportunity
to observe respondents’ affective expression and coping strategies. The MAT
provides benchmarks for Executive Function, Narrative Style, Affective
Resonance, Preoccupation, Response to Stress, and other categories significant
to personality and dynamics.
The complementary use of
the MAT with other tests provides enhanced confidence in assessment results.
This is so when MAT results confirm standard tests. The examiner can be assured
that results are not an artifact of the testing method. This is also the case
when MAT results do not confirm standard tests. The examiner is alerted to
possible limitations of paper-and-pencil findings and respondents’ special needs
or skills. When assessment is important employ the MAT.
Psychodiagnostics Newsletter
Psychodiagnostics publishes a newsletter that describes our new offerings and updates research and findings about the MAT. If you are interested in the Psychodiagnostics Newsletter, please enter your email address below. You may opt out at any time. Psychodiagnostics keeps your information confidential and never shares it with anyone.
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Psychodiagnostics provides coding and evaluation of MAT results.
Qualified Purchasers call 866-530-7742 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST to qualify and order
the MAT by credit card or PayPal (See Prices Page).
