Location, The Synthesis Response

1. Chapter 2
SUBMITTED TO:
PROF. AGNES MONTALBO
RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

2. LOCATION
The location scoring is one of the least complex features of the Rorschach
score. It provides information about how the subject has used the blot in
formulating his response, that is, has he used the entire blot, or a commonly
used area of the blot, or has he selected a portion of the blot which has a low
frequency of response.
Technically, there are six possible location scores (W, D, Dd, DW, DdW, and
DdD) plus an additional score (S) that is included when the white space areas
are also included in the response. In practice, three of the six location scores
occur with such a low frequency that many examiners will use them less than
once in every 1000 records (which may well be more than some examiners will
do in a professional lifetime).

3.  The three scores that are extremely rare are DW, DdW, and DdD. They represent
“Confabulatory responses”. An extensive discussion of them is included in the text
in the section on location scoring (pp. 53-68), and they will not be considered
here, other than providing definitions for them. In other words, the location
scoring for the overwhelming majority of Rorschach answers will be W, D, and Dd,
with the possibility of S being added to any of those if white space is also used.
Table 1, show below, provides the basic definitions for all of the location scores

4. TABLE 1: SYMBOLS AND CRITERIA USED FOR LOCATION SCORING
SYMBOL DEFINITION CRITERION
W Whole response Where the blot is interpreted as a whole. All
portions of the blot must be used.
D Common detail response A frequently identified area of the blot.
Dd Unusual detail response An infrequently identified area of the blot.
S Space response A white space area is used in the response
(scored only with another location scoring).
DW or
DdW
DdD
Confabulated
Whole response
Confabulated
Detail response
The blot is interpreted as a whole secondarily,
the primary answer being based on a detail
feature of the blot.
A commonly perceived detail area is interpreted
secondarily, the primary answer being based on
an unusual detail area.

5.  How do we determine which of the location scores to use? This is an easy process in that much
of the work has been done for us. First, the subject tells us, either in his response, or in the
Inquiry, what area of the blot is included in his answer. This is duly recorded on the Location
Sheet for future reference, (and a caution might be offered here; make sure that the area
specified by the subject is clearly delineate on the location sheet and make special note of
specific feature such as eyes, arms, hats, etc., and be especially alert to record unusual features
or unique responses, so that anyone may look at the location sheet and easily reconstruct the
areas involved). Once the subject has identified the area of the blot used in the response, the
location score evolves through a process of elimination.
 W is scored when the entire blot has been used. It is never scored if less than the entire blot is
used, even if the portion of the blot omitted is very small.


6. If the response is not W, then it must be D or Dd. All D areas have been defined
using a response frequency method, and they are illustrated for each of the blots in
Table A, which is included in this workbook, and which appears in the text (pp. 155-
200). Thus, if a response is not W, the scorer looks to the appropriate figure in the
Table A to determine if the area involved is a D area.
Any response which is not W or D is automatically scored as Dd. Size is not a
factor in scoring Dd, as some Dd areas will be very small and others very large.
The scoring of S is added to any of other location score when the white space
areas are also included in the answer.

7. How do we determine which of the location scores to use? This is an easy process
in that much of the work has been done for us. First, the subject tells us, either in
his response, or in the Inquiry, what area of the blot is included in his answer. This
is duly recorded on the Location Sheet for future reference, (and a caution might
be offered here; make sure that the area specified by the subject is clearly
delineate on the location sheet and make special note of specific feature such as
eyes, arms, hats, etc., and be especially alert to record unusual features or unique
responses, so that anyone may look at the location sheet and easily reconstruct
the areas involved). Once the subject has identified the area of the blot used in the
response, the location score evolves through a process of elimination.
W is scored when the entire blot has been used. It is never scored if less than the
entire blot is used, even if the portion of the blot omitted is very small.

8. If the response is not W, then it must be D or Dd. All D areas have been defined
using a response frequency method, and they are illustrated for each of the blots in
Table A, which is included in this workbook, and which appears in the text (pp. 155-
200). Thus, if a response is not W, the scorer looks to the appropriate figure in the
Table A to determine if the area involved is a D area.
Any response which is not W or D is automatically scored as Dd. Size is not a
factor in scoring Dd, as some Dd areas will be very small and others very large.
The scoring of S is added to any of other location score when the white space
areas are also included in the answer.

9. LOCATION SCORING FOR MULTIPLE AREAS. Some percepts will involve the use
of two or more D areas . in some of these cases, the appropriate scoring will be
D, whereas in other instances, the score will be Dd.
Selecting the correct score requires two steps:
1. Re-examine the appropriate blot figure in Table A. Some D areas are, in fact,
a combination of other D areas. For example in Card III, the D1 area is really the
composite of the two D9 areas, plus D7. In other instances, however, two D
areas may be used in an answer but they are not shown as a separate D in the
figure in Table A. These responses may be scored D or Dd, and one more step is
required for that determination.

10.  2. If each of the detail areas used involves a separate content, the correct
scoring will be D. For instance a response to Card III is, “A person(D9) holding ball
(D4)”.Here, two D areas are used, but are clearly differentiated, one being the
person the second being the ball. If the two areas have been integrated to form a
single content, the correct scoring is Dd. For example, the same combination of
areas cited above (D9+D4) might be reported as, “A person with a large hand.” In
this answer, the subject is perceiving the composite of D9 and D4 as a single area,
a very common event. Thus, the Dd scoring. In the earlier example, the subject
was perceiving each D area separately, or as separate contents, and then
integrating them; thus, the scoring of D.

11. It also seems important to note that/while some of the more frequently used Dd areas
are shown in Table A/it is really impossible to list all potential Dd’s. Some occur once
in a lifetime. Those shown in Table A have been included to aid in differentiating form
quality. Obviously, any areas used in a response that does not appear in Table A are
Dd answer.
DEVELOPMENTAL QUALITY SCORING
After the location score has been selected, a Developmental Quantity (DQ) score
should be added. Whereas the location score tells us where something is seen, the
DQ scoring tells us something about how the subject has used the blot. It relates to
the level of cognitive maturity or sophistication that has been involved in formulating
the response.
The DQ scores are elaborated in the text and some examples are provided (pp. 60-
67) ; however, some additional clarification of this scoring seems important here in
that it often appears more confusing to the novice than is truly the case. There are
four DQ scores (+, o, v, and -). Table 2 provides the basic definitions for each.

12. TABLE 2: SYMBOLS AND CRITERIA FOR DQ SCORING
Symbol Definition Criteria
+ Synthesized response Unitary or discrete portions of the blot are
perceptually response articulated and integrated or
combined into a single percept.
o Ordinary response A discrete are of the blot is selected and articulated
so response as to emphasize the gross outline and
obvious structural features of the are selected.
v Vague response A diffuse or general impression is offered to the blot
or response blot are in a manner which avoids the
necessity of articulation of specific outlines or
structural features.
- Arbitrary response Articulation of the blot or blot area is inconsistent
with response the structural limitations of the blot.

13. Occasionally, the beginning scorer tends to confuse the DQ scoring with Form Quality
scoring, possibly because the symbols are similar, or possibly because there is a
relationship between two of the DQ scores (v and - ) and the form features of the
responses. As previously noted, the DQ score reflects something of the cognitive
sophistication manifest in the response. The Form Quality scoring reflects perceptual
accuracy; but they are not the same, and hopefully, a clarification of the rules for
scoring DQ will facilitate an understanding of these differences. Let us study the Dd
scores in an order somewhat different than is presented in Table 2.

14.  THE VAGUE RESPONSE (v): This scoring is used for all answers in which there is
essentially no specific form requirement. In other words, it is used for any
response in which the object reported can be of various shapes. For instances,
blood, water, clouds, islands, smoke, Abstract paintings, rocks, fire, explosion, etc.
Have an almost infinite number of form possibilities .
 They are all scored vague when they are the only content of the answer. Any
object that have specific form requirement cannot be scored v because of that
requirement, such as, people, boots, animals, birds, fish, tables, chairs, etc. It is
true that each of these can have form variations. One chair can be overstuffed
and another might be straight-backed; or one person can be short and another
might be tall; but the fact remains that a form requirement exists within a broad
framework. In some responses a non-specific form object is combined with a
specific form object, as in, “A woman with smoke all around her.” In this case v
would not be scored because the central object does have a form requirement
(woman).

15. Questions frequently asked by students regarding the appropriate DQ scoring for
mountains, landscape, rivers, and flowers. The decision about whether or not to score v
must be made in light of the verbal material. If a subject says, “A flower, this is the stem
and here are the petals,” the v score would not appropriate as a reasonably specific form
element has been injected into the response by the subject. Conversely, if a subject says,
“This is pretty like a lot of flowers”, and does not elaborate further concerning a form
element, the v score would be correct. Similarly, where “A mountain” would probably be
scored v because of the many possible shapes that mountains may take, “Mount Mckinley”
would not be scored v as it has a very specific shape.
The v score is applicable regardless of the Form Quality scoring. It can occur in responses
where the form accuracy is terribly distorted

16. THE ARBITRARY RESPONSE (-): This DQ score is directly dependent upon the
assignment of the Form Quality score. The – is scored whenever the object reported is
grossly inconsistent with the form limitations of the blot area used. It represents a
cognitive disarray in which both perceptual accuracy and cognitive sophistication are
lacking. Whereas the other three DQ scores ( +, o, and v) can be assigned without
reference to the Form Quality scoring, the assignment of the – is contingent upon a –
Form Quality scoring. The ultimate decision to score – requires three steps:

17. 1.The object reported in the response must be identified in the Form Quality listings in
Table A as “Poor”, or in those instances where the object is not listed in Table A, the
scorer must decide that it is truly a gross distortion.
2.When it has been determined that the Form Quality is “poor” the scorer must also
decide (using the principle of form quality differentiation explained in Chapter 6 of the
text and also exemplified there in Table B; and described here in Chapter 4) that the
object is truly a gross distortion rather than a simple "bending" of perceptual accuracy.
In other words, the Form Quality score must be -.
3. It must not be possible to assign a DQ score of v. In some cases. a response will have
a Form Quality score of -, but the object involved has no specific from requirement. In
these instances tha score of v will take precedence over the scoring of -.
Summarizing then, the - DQ score is assigned whenever the Form Quality score is
also -. and when the DQ v score is not applicable.

18. THE SYNTHESIS RESPONSE ( + ): This might also be called an integration or
combinatory response. The + score is assigned when the subject has broken up a
area of the blot into two or more related objects, or two ore more discrete blot areas
are described as separate but related objects. It reflects a sophisticated sort of
operation, and is relatively independent of form quality. Let's look at some examples of
each type of + answer.
Earlier, the Card III combination of D9 plus D4 as, "A person holding a ball" was
used. This is a good illustration of a + response in that two discrete areas are involved;
each is a separate object, and they are perceived in relationship. Similarly, a very
common response to Card III involves two people (both D9 areas) doing something.
This is also a + response in that two discrete objects are reported in relationship.
Conversely, if those same two D9 areas are reported simply as, "Two people', with no
relationship identified, the + scoring would not be appropriate.

19. Look at the D4 area (center) of Card I. Quite frequently, this area is reported as a
person, usually a woman. This is not a + response; however, now try and look at
that same area as two people facing each other, each with a hand in the air. This is
a good illustration of how a discrete blot area may be cognitively broken up and
then integrated in a rational manner, and obviously, it is scored +. Or for another
example of this same process, look at the D3 area on Card III, which is frequently
seen as a butterfly (which is not a + response). Look at each side (Dd29) as a "fat
little man", and the center (Dd28) "where they are shaking hands." Again we have
an example of a discrete blot area being cognitively "broken" and then re-
integrated in a meaningful way. This response would also be scored +, even
though the from quality might be somewhat questionable.

20.  There is only one exception to the + scoring when a synthesis or combinatory answer has been
given, and that is when the form quality is -. The - scoring takes precedence so as to properly
identify the cognitive and perceptual disarray that has occurred. For instance, look at Card X. Let's
suppose that a subject says, "This (D1) is a man eating the brains (d12) of a woman." There is a
clear synthesis of two discrete areas involved here, however, the form accuracy is pretty terrible
and a - would be scored for form quality. This, in turn, necessittates a DQ score of - rather than +.

21. THE ORDINARY RESPONSE (o): This DQ score is assigned to responses in which a discrete
area of the blot is reported as an object, and that object has reasonably specific form
requirements which have not been violated grossly. In other words, any response which
is not score +, v, or - will automatically be score o. It is usually the most frequent
response given in that it does not require the complex cognitive action involved in the +
answer, and at the same time, it represents a higher form of cognitive activity than
occurs in the v or - responses.
In some instances, the subject may note that the symmetry of the blot is such that,
"there is one on each side", as in the example of two people in Card III. This is still scored
o unless some relationship is implied between the perceived objects, such as "Two
people looking at each other" (which would be scored +).

22. SUMMARY
Location scoring is quite important in that it offers us some understanding about how
a person approaches his stimulus world, and what he does with those stimuli. the
composite of the location score and the developmental quality score represents this
process. The scoring procedure is reasonably simple, especially when gauged against the
very important yield that it offers.
Most beginners will find themselves quite "at ease" with the scoring after having
scored only a small number of answers for practice, and especially after they gain a solid
understanding of the scoring for form qualtiy, an elaboration of which is presented on
Chapter 4.