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The Human Figure Drawing Test has evolved over many years of clinical use. The original Draw-A-Person test (DAP) was created by Florence Goodenough and later modified by Dale B. Harris. It remains in use as the prominent human figure drawing measure applicable across the life span. Administration time is about 10–15 min. The subject is provided paper and pencil, and one of a number of test instructions, for example, “draw a whole figure, not a stick figure,” or provided three sheets of paper and asked to “draw a man, a woman, and yourself.” For the latter version, drawings are scored on 73 dimensions that evaluate different figural aspects, including body parts, motor coordination, and face and limb proportion (Harris, 1963). A total composite score is computed for all three drawings (Cosden and Willis, 1992). Other scoring systems are available.
For the Draw-A-Person test, the Quantitative Scoring System (DAP: QSS) estimates nonverbal...
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References and Readings
Cosden, M., Morrison, G. M. (1995). Review of the Draw A Person: screening procedure for emotional disturbance. In J. C. Conoley & J. C. Impara (Eds.), The twelfth mental measurements yearbook (pp. 320–323). Lincoln, NE: Buros Institute of Mental Measurements.
Cosden, M., Willis, W. G. (1992). Review of the Draw A Person quantitative scoring system. In J. J. Kramer & J. C. Conoley (Eds.), The eleventh mental measurements yearbook (pp. 287–290). Lincoln, NE: Buros Institute of Mental Measurements.
Gale Reference Team (2001). Draw-A-Person Test. In Gale encyclopedia of psychology. Retrieved September 22, 2008, from Gale Group database
Goodenough, F. L. (1926). Measurement of intelligence by drawings. Chicago, IL: World Book Company.
Harris, D. B. (1963). Children’s drawings as measures of intellectual maturity. New York, NY: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc.
Hiltonsmith, R. W., Sandoval, J. (2007). Review of the Draw-A-Person intellectual ability test for children, adolescents, and adults. In K. F. Geisinger, R. A. Spies, J. F. Carlson, & B. S. Plake (Eds.), The seventeenth mental measurements yearbook (pp. 282–286). Lincoln, NE: Buros Institute of Mental Measurements.
Machover, K. (1949). Personality projection in the drawing of the human figure: a method of personality investigation. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Weiss, J. (1950). Personality projection in the drawing of the human figure: by Karen Machover, Ph.D. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas, 1949. 181 pp. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 19, 122–123.
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Holtz-Eakin, E., Baron, I.S. (2011). Human Figure Drawing Tests. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_1552
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