What is the procedure and purpose of the Draw-A-Person Test?

Smiling person (combined head and body) age 4½.

The Draw-A-Person Test (DAP, DAP test, or Goodenough-Harris Draw-A-Person Test) is a psychological projective personality or cognitive test used to evaluate children and adolescents for a variety of purposes.

History

Developed originally by Florence Goodenough in 1926, this test was first known as the Goodenough Draw-A-Man test. It is detailed in her book titled Measurement of Intelligence by Drawings. Dr. Dale B. Harris later revised and extended the test and it is now known as the Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test. The revision and extension is detailed in his book Children’s Drawings as Measures of Intellectual Maturity (1963). Psychologist Julian Jaynes, in the 1976 book, The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind wrote that the test is “routinely administered as an indicator of schizophrenia,” and that while not all schizophrenic patients have trouble drawing a person, when they do, it is very clear evidence of a disorder. And that such signs might be a patient’s neglect to include “obvious anatomical parts like hands and eyes,” with “blurred and unconnected lines,” ambiguous sexuality and general distortion. There has been no validation of this test as indicative of schizophrenia. Chapman and Chapman (1969), in a classic study of illusory correlation, showed that the scoring manual, e.g., large eyes as indicative of paranoia, could be generated from the naive beliefs of undergraduates.

Nature of the test

Test administration involves the administrator requesting children to complete three individual drawings on separate pieces of paper. Children are asked to draw a man, a woman, and themselves. No further instructions are given and the child is free to make the drawing in whichever way he/she would like. There is no right or wrong type of drawing, although the child must make a drawing of a whole person each time – i.e. head to feet, not just the face. The test has no time limit; however, children rarely take longer than about 10 or 15 minutes to complete all three drawings. Harris’s book (1963) provides scoring scales which are used to examine and score the child’s drawings. The test is completely non-invasive and non-threatening to children, which is part of its appeal.

To evaluate intelligence, the test administrator uses the Draw-a-Person: QSS (Quantitative Scoring System). This system analyzes fourteen different aspects of the drawings (such as specific body parts and clothing) for various criteria, including presence or absence, detail, and proportion. In all, there are 64 scoring items for each drawing. A separate standard score is recorded for each drawing, and a total score for all three. The use of a nonverbal, nonthreatening task to evaluate intelligence is intended to eliminate possible sources of bias by reducing variables like primary language, verbal skills, communication disabilities, and sensitivity to working under pressure. However, test results can be influenced by previous drawing experience, a factor that may account for the tendency of middle-class children to score higher on this test than lower-class children, who often have fewer opportunities to draw. To assess the test-taker for emotional problems, the administrator uses the Draw-a-Person: SPED (Screening Procedure for Emotional Disturbance) to score the drawings. This system is composed of two types of criteria. For the first type, eight dimensions of each drawing are evaluated against norms for the child’s age group. For the second type, 47 different items are considered for each drawing.

The purpose of the test is to assist professionals in inferring children’s cognitive developmental levels with little or no influence of other factors such as language barriers or special needs. Any other uses of the test are merely projective and are not endorsed by the first creator.

Administration and Scoring of the Draw-A-Person Test

The Draw-A-Person Test (DAP) is a projective psychological test that is used to assess a person’s personality, emotional functioning, and self-concept. The test is administered by a trained psychologist who asks the test subject to draw a person. The test administrator then scores the drawing based on a variety of criteria, such as the presence or absence of specific body parts, the proportion of the body parts, and the amount of detail.

The DAP can be administered to people of all ages, but it is most commonly used with children. The test is typically administered in a quiet room where the test subject will not be interrupted. The test administrator will provide the test subject with a blank piece of paper and a pencil. The test administrator will then give the following instructions:

• “I would like you to draw a picture of a person.”
• “You can draw any kind of person you want. It can be a man, a woman, or a child.”
• “There are no right or wrong answers. Just draw the person the way you see them in your mind.”

The test administrator should not give any further instructions or feedback to the test subject. The test subject should be allowed to draw the person however they want, without any interruptions.

The test administrator will then score the drawing based on a variety of criteria. The most common scoring system is the Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test. The Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test assigns points to different features of the drawing, such as the presence or absence of specific body parts, the proportion of the body parts, and the amount of detail. The total score is then used to assess the test subject’s cognitive maturity.

The DAP is a subjective test, and there is some disagreement among psychologists about how to interpret the results. However, there are a number of general themes that can be interpreted from the drawing, such as:

• The size and placement of the figure: A large figure may indicate self-confidence, while a small figure may indicate low self-esteem.
• The use of lines and shading: Heavy lines or shading may indicate anxiety or aggression.
• The facial expression: A happy facial expression may indicate positive emotions, while a sad or angry facial expression may indicate negative emotions.
• The omission of body parts: The omission of certain body parts may indicate feelings of insecurity or inadequacy.

Interpretation of the Draw-A-Person Test

The Draw-A-Person Test (DAP) is a projective psychological test that is used to assess a person’s personality, emotional functioning, and self-concept. The test is administered by a trained psychologist who asks the test subject to draw a person. The test administrator then interprets the drawing based on a variety of factors, such as the size and placement of the figure, the use of lines and shading, and the facial expression.

The interpretation of the DAP is a complex process that requires training and experience. There are a number of different factors that can be interpreted from the drawing, and the meaning of each factor can vary depending on the individual’s unique circumstances.

Some of the common factors that are interpreted from the DAP include:

• Size and placement of the figure: A large figure may indicate self-confidence, while a small figure may indicate low self-esteem. A figure that is drawn in the center of the page may indicate a need for attention, while a figure that is drawn in the corner of the page may indicate withdrawal or isolation.
• Use of lines and shading: Heavy lines or shading may indicate anxiety or aggression. Light lines or no shading may indicate passivity or low energy.
• Facial expression: A happy facial expression may indicate positive emotions, while a sad or angry facial expression may indicate negative emotions. A neutral facial expression may indicate indifference or a lack of emotion.
• Omission of body parts: The omission of certain body parts may indicate feelings of insecurity or inadequacy. For example, the omission of arms or hands may indicate feelings of powerlessness or helplessness.
• Position of body parts: The position of body parts can also be interpreted. For example, a figure with crossed arms may indicate defensiveness or withdrawal. A figure with open arms may indicate openness or receptiveness.
• Dress or clothing: The dress or clothing of the figure can also be interpreted. For example, a figure that is dressed in very elaborate clothing may indicate a need for attention or approval. A figure that is dressed in very plain clothing may indicate low self-esteem or a lack of confidence.

The interpretation of the DAP is a subjective process, and there is no single interpretation that is universally accepted. However, the test can be a valuable tool for psychologists in gaining insight into a person’s thoughts, feelings, and emotional functioning.

It is important to note that the DAP should not be used as the sole basis for making psychological diagnoses or decisions. It is important to use the test in conjunction with other assessment tools and to consider the individual’s unique circumstances.