Backs incomplete phrases. How does it work?

The Incomplete Sacks Test Test is a psychological test that enters the category of projective techniques. It is an instrument that allows the evaluator Analyze unconscious personality aspects of the individual. In this way, it is possible to have a clearer idea of ​​what happens in the person's internal world and obtain a better diagnosis.

The technique of incomplete phrases is a test that is used in a wide variety of cases. Through a series of prayers, it is likely to know more about how someone perceives their family, environment and himself. For that reason, in this article, we will know more about this tool and its function.

Content

• What is the Test Incomplete Phrases Test?
• History
• How does the Incomplete Sacks phrases test work?
• Reliability
  • References

What is the Test Incomplete Phrases Test?

As we mentioned at the beginning, the first thing we should know about this instrument is that it is a projective test. In this sense, the objective of a projective technique is to create a situation where the person reveals aspects of their internal life that are unconscious.

For example, a person could boast about how much others love him and their popularity. However, a projective test could reveal that, in reality, its self -esteem is low and tends to compensate for external approval.

In the case of the Incomplete Sacks Test Test, it is a questionnaire that consists of a series of uninjured sentences. A phrase that we could see in the test is "other people think I am ...". The idea is that the person completes the spaces in whites with the first thing that appears in their mind when reading the phrase. In this way, it is believed that it is possible to capture unconscious aspects of the individual's personality and better understand his complaint.

The technique of incomplete phrases is similar to other tools such as the thematic apotception test (TAT). In both cases, what is sought to know is the dynamics of personality, that is, the way in which their drives behave. The instrument has different categories to evaluate several aspects of internal life: mother, family, authority figures, emotional regulation, sexuality, interpersonal relationships, etc.

History

While the incomplete bags test of Sacks is one of the most popular, it was not the first to exist. Usually, it is said that Herman Ebbinghaus was the first author to create a test of completing phrases in 1879. Although, Ebbinghaus developed the instrument in order to measure the intellectual development of infants and not their personality.

Later, Carl Jung suggested that the use of incomplete sentences could be a good method to study personality. According to Jung, it was possible to know the unconscious better when analyzing the associations that the individual made with words or phrases. In fact, Jung is attributed to the popularization of this evaluation technique.

Some time later, other authors such as Arthur Payne and Alexander Tendler would use the method to study aspects of personality and emotions. Then, Amanda Rhode would develop a version to evaluate personality dynamics globally and not just specific things. The following works on incomplete phrases tests would be created based on Amanda Rhode model.

The Incomplete Sacks Test is based on the Incomplete Phrases Test of Rotter and Rafferty created in 1950. Sacks wanted to elaborate a technique to study specific personality fields with this method.

How does the Incomplete Sacks phrases test work?

Before starting to describe the structure of the test, we must take into account that through the years different adaptations have been made. Therefore, there is not a single version of the test and we can find one or the other depending on factors such as age or language. In most cases, the technique of incomplete phrases has a total of 60 sentences or items to be completed.

Following this line, it is a test that can be applied individually or in a group. For that reason, it is usually used in the business field for the evaluation of the personality of applicants for a position. It can also be used in marketing studies to better learn about the motivations of a target audience.

On the other hand, there is no stipulated period to complete the test. However, due to their simplicity, people tend to end after about 15 or 20 minutes. While there is no specific interval to complete it, it is important that the Incomplete Sacks phrases test does not take too much time. Otherwise, it could happen that the self defense mechanisms intervene and alter the unconscious information that is intended to be obtained.

In fact, when reciting the premise, it is recommended that the evaluator tell the person not to think about their excess answers. Similarly, you should be invited to complete the phrases with the greatest possible sincerity. When performing the test, the person can find phrases like the following:

• When I am alone…
• My father is…
• When I see my boss come ..

Reliability

Like any other psychological evaluation instrument, this test is not a diagnostic tool alone. That is, we cannot diagnose mental disorders based on the information that this test throws. The most recommended that this technique is used in conjunction with others to achieve a more complete image of reality.

There are even psychologists who advise the use of projective techniques because they suffer from cognitive biases. Both by the evaluator and the person who submits to the test, which can lead to false data.

In conclusion, the Incomplete Sacks Test Test is a projective technique that can reveal interesting things about ourselves about ourselves. But, their results must be taken cautiously and it is necessary to corroborate them with observation and other instruments.

Graphic test of the tree, what is and how it is interpreted

References

• Goldberg, p. TO. (1968). The Current Status of Sentence Completion Methods. Journal of Projective Techniques and Personssment, 32(3), 215-221.
• SACKS, J. M., & Levy, S. (1950). The sentence completion test.