Perceptual Accuracy as Measured by the Rorschach: Are American Norms Applicable for Cross-Cultural Assessment?

Cross-cultural applications of Rorschach's test assume that American norms may be applied, but this assumption has little empirical basis. In fact, several such investigations have indicated that culture-specific norms must be employed on key variables employed to assess subjects' perceprual accuracy. The current study compared responses of 19 Spanish children who scored low on a reading measure and were considered by their teachers to experience significant reading problems with 19 peers who scored significantly higher on that reading measure and who experienced no apparent reading problems. Perceprual accuracy of both groups, as measured by the F + and X + percents, was virtually identical. Results are discussed in the context of other research which has questioned the cross-cultural applicability of American norms with respect to perceptual accuracy.