Effects of computer administration upon a tree drawing projective technique

Abstract

Projective tree drawing techniques are used by clinicians and therapists to assess the personality and emotional state of patients. This study compares the results of administering a computerized projective tree drawing technique with the results obtained by a pencil and paper counterpart. Both techniques are based upon the tree drawing component of the House-Tree-Person technique and related tests. With Compute-A-Tree, subjects created tree pictures from a menu of preselected imagery while subjects taking the conventional form of the technique produced spontaneous tree drawings. A post-drawing questionnaire (PDQ) employing a Likert scale was used to measure subjects attitudes regarding their tree images. The mean score for computer rendered trees was higher than the mean score for conventionally rendered images. Similarities were found between responses to the images obtained through the two forms of administration.