word association test

[scottobear]

it looks long, but goes fast.



[Poll #3816]

http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~horan/ced522readings/jung/association/lecture1.htm

a breakdown of the sorts of replies.

Comments

[i.livejournal.com]

i did it as fast as i could, so some of my answers are a bit odd. thet me know what the doc thinks.

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

some of the words are designed to freeze you up a bit.

I'm glad you played! I look forward to seeing the way folks answer... (I'll put a 'evaluation table' up tonight, after folks have had a chance to do it. )

[filleinvisible.livejournal.com]

What will you do with the results?

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

just observe them, and see how folks answer... I have a sort of 'grading chart' that I'll post later on... how some folks answer in different ways.. (how many rhyme, put opposites, etc)

that was fun!

[shoo.livejournal.com]

I liked the answers to "false"

Dave....where is your mind...;Þ

Re: that was fun!

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

*giggles...

Well, maybe he recently saw an episode of baywatch or something. :)

I'm glad you had fun!

[papoose.livejournal.com]

I did it as fast as I could too. I'm really ineterested in seeing the results. Can I link to it on my page to drum up more takers?

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

sure! :)

[misspriss.livejournal.com]

Yay!! That was fun!

I cannot wait to see the "grading chart" . . . I did it really fast, like everyone else, and I'm wondering what my answers say about me :)

Thanks for the great between-class activity!

[vyoma.livejournal.com]

Saw the link on Papoose's page and went through the test quickly and honestly. Had to laugh; my answer to "marriage" is "run." Guess I'm not the marrying type after all...

[markusn.livejournal.com]

Next thing you'll do is match me up with kitiara. I checked the first maybe 10 words and we had two matches. Plus I knew her answer to green would be "celery" :D

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

*grins

well, as long as you had fun!:)

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

welcome, and thanks for coming over!

maybe you were doing opposites? like black and white. :)

perhaps it means you're a very loyal, steadfast sort!

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you found time to do it!

here's an instruction sheet that comes with W-A tests

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

1. Patient Instructions

Here's what I say to the patient. "We're now going to do a word association test. This test contains 100 words. After I say each word, I'll be expecting you to respond with a word. I want you to answer as quickly as possible with the first word that occurs to your mind."

2. Recording your results

I use a table to record the test results. The table has three columns: test word, reaction time, and patient-response. After I say each word, I record the patient's response. If there is a quick response I put nothing in the reaction time column. If the response is delayed, I count silently to myself and then record the number of seconds. If you can develop a consistency in your method, this is accurate enough to notice delays in response. The important factor is that you give the test in the same fashion to every patient. Over time, you'll develop a reproducible technique that is necessary for you gain experience with.

3. Interpretation

After the session has ended and the patient has left, I categorize each response by placing the following initials by the patient's response. If you want to read Jung's descriptions of response types, link to the original article above. Understand that some of this requires the use of your judgment. Don't worry about whether you're doing this right or wrong. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be fairly consistent across your own patient population. To me, that's the important thing that you want to aim for:

O = opposite (ex. test-word: head, response: tail)

A = association (ex. test-word: green, response: blue)

D = definition (ex. test-word: lake, response: water). A definition is a response that expresses the patient defining the test word rather than responding with an association.

P = predicate (ex. test-word: to marry, response: forever). A predicate is a response that expresses a judgment by the patient. It has a qualitative feel.

R = repetition (ex. test-word: to wash, response: to wash) A repetition may be preceded or followed by an "uhm" or some other pause. Typically, either there is another word that is given next or the response bottles up entirely.

Also, if it strikes me as relevant, I record the quality of association (ex. loose or concrete, etc.). After I get done initializing each response, I then make a mark by those responses that had a prolonged reaction time.

4. Re-writing

To me, this is a very important step. I re-write both the test word and response by the following categories: increased response time, predicates, repetitions, and multiple words. Then I sit back and quietly reflect as I look at the groupings, words, and responses. Usually if you've done the test after you've had a few sessions with the patient, it will be clear how the responses are relevant to the patient. Later, in future sessions, I might explore the areas that had prolonged reaction time, as to whether they represent major areas needing psychological exploration. I like to use the predicate responses as areas that may represent emotional deficiencies. Repetitions may offer a similar insight into the psyche as increased response time does (though these often go together).

5. Final Thoughts

Have fun with this. Once you experience the "aha" of seeing the validity of the test with a particular patient, you'll want to include it in your repetoire of psychological skills. Take the time to perform the test on many patients, even if you don't find any immediate benefit from it. Be patient and of course, never interpret the results of a single test such as this in isolation of the clinical history, physical and laboratory examination, clinical course, psychiatric diagnosis, and the results of other bedside or psychological testing.

I'll post Jung's original interpretations when I get home from work. :)

[danigolden.livejournal.com]

I can't believe how many people put "top" to carrot!!!!

Including me!

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

same here! freaky!

were they all thinking of redheads in general?

or that evil prop comic?

[lique.livejournal.com]

Near as I can tell, most of what I learned about myself from this is, often I think in pictures alone. ;)

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

that's an interesting insight... I can believe it, too. :)

[ex-wing191.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I'm the only one who mentioned tequila.

[papoose.livejournal.com]

hahahaha!

and what does tequila have to do with weddings?

[papoose.livejournal.com]

oh wait - what was tequila again?

i saw it somewhere and thought it odd...

[ex-wing191.livejournal.com]

would there be any weddings if there wasn't tequila?

[ex-wing191.livejournal.com]

i've never found it to be odd

[vyoma.livejournal.com]

Loyal and steadfast, yes. (Re)Marriagable, no.

[bookfoole.livejournal.com]

I notice in your one letter classification, you don't have anything for "continuations" --like carrot "top" or green "house" where you continue the word into a compound word or common two word phrase --I would think that would be one of the more common responses.

Interesting test --I read most of the paper too. No surprises --I already knew I was neurotic : )

I knew someone when I was going to school who was going around the dorm giving these --three of us decided to have fun. We thought of a random word to give for the first response and then responded to each subsequent word with our response to the previous word. It was rather surrealistic and we actually had rather fast reaction times.

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

you're right... ol' Carl made no mention of compound words.. water-fall and carrrot-top were two that I felll victim to.

Neuroses... if you're Neurotic, you're in good company. :) the freeform reply idea is a neat one! a great way to confuse the testgiver.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

When I read the word, I get a picture, then I have to wait a moment for a word (or single thought actually) to pop out so I can write it down.