Rorschach Performance Assessment System

Scoring

The R-PAS did not create new variables but systematically reviewed those used in past systems, renaming many to be more face valid. Scoring updates include the use of percentiles and standard scores to align with other personality measures. In addition to coding responses, the system provides behavioral codes for examinee behavior during administration, believed to reflect task performance and supplement the verbal responses.

New variables

New variables in the R-PAS not found in the Comprehensive System include Complexity, Space Integration, Space Reversal, Oral Dependency Language, the Mutuality of Autonomy scale, the Ego Impairment Index, and Aggressive Content. All of these variables have been used previously, either in other Rorschach systems or as stand-alone codes, with prior research showing correlation coefficients around approximately 0.9.

Inter-rater reliability

Preliminary reliability data for the R-PAS scoring system showed that two different raters scored the same responses similarly. In a study, 50 records of responses were randomly selected and coded by two raters, yielding an average intraclass correlation of 0.88 and a median of 0.92 across all variables. These findings indicate good to excellent inter-rater reliability, consistent with previous findings for the variables used.

Forensic application

Advantages of using the R-PAS in forensic evaluations include incremental validity over self-report measures, protection against inaccurate symptom presentation, and information regarding states and traits. However, some argue the R-PAS fails to meet admissibility criteria under Frye and Daubert guidelines, citing concerns about its psychometric properties, lack of current normative data, and absence of independent research groups. There is no consensus on its admissibility in court.

Did You Know?

• R-optimized administration procedures instruct examiners to ask respondents to provide two or three responses for each of the 10 Rorschach cards.
• Examiners may use 'prompts' to encourage more responses or 'pulls' to ask examinees to return the card.
• Normative data for the R-PAS were compiled from 15 adult samples gathered in the United States, Europe, Israel, Argentina, and Brazil.