The mechanics of the project

This section explains how the project was carried out, how it might be developed / finished, and gives some examples of the Blacky questions and original test images.

How the project was carried out

This is the information I sent (posted) to participants (found by word-of-mouth). It explains the overall idea, and what I asked them to do. This information was sent with two cards, the blank card and a card with the questions and prompts from the ‘Blacky’ test.  There's more information on the details of the original test here

CONCEPT

This project is part of an exploration I am making about projective testing. Projective testing is one of a number of psychological techniques designed to measure personality. This project takes text from one particular test, designed in the 1950's. In the test (I can't give many details about it, in case it influences your drawings unduly) a subject is asked to look at a number of drawings. The tester asks the subject some questions, and on the basis of his / her answers, conclusions about the subject's personality traits are drawn.  In this project, I'm using the questions and asking you to make a drawing which, you believe, matches the questions.  

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO

You have two cards (per set – if I have sent more than one set it is because I’m hoping you might do more than one drawing).  One card is blank, the other has a number of questions on it, and, in some cases, sets of possible answers.  Read the questions and answers on this card.

 What picture do you think the questions might be asked of? Please draw, on the blank card, the picture which you think the questions are asked about.

The drawing can be as complex or simple as you wish.

You don't have to be highly skilled in drawing.

You can take as little, or as much, time as you wish.

If you want, put your contact details on the back of the drawing. Or you can remain anonymous.  If you also put your email address, I can keep you informed of progress with the project. 

When you are done, return the cards to me in the envelope provided.

Managing the project and the results

Although in theory it should have been relatively simple to co-ordinate the sending and return of the cards, in practice it was tricky to manage the cards. I had to keep track of the text versions sent, and the responses back. This is a section of the organisational spreadsheet where I tried to do this (names changed to letters):

 

Name	Contacted	Yes No Other	Sent info	M F text	Cartoon	Set of answers	Reminder	Returned	Image
A	yes	Yes	yes 7/2	M	9 (q5) and 10m (Q6)	1-4, ??		yes	yes
C	yes	yes	yes 7/2	M	3 (q3) and 1 (q4)	1-3, 1-3
D	yes	yes	yes 14/2	several (see below)	(see below)	See below)		yes	yes
E	yes	yes	yes 9/2	f (q9) and m (q10)	10f (Q9) and 2 (Q10)	??, 1 and 3

 

Eventually, I recieved a number of cards back, with drawings. You can see some of the returned cards here.   The project is unfinished: although ongoing I've not worked on it for a while. I'd ideally like quite a few more cards back. It would also be interesting to display the work in such a way as to show the original Blacky cards, and perhaps also to invite further participation by the gallery audience.

The Blacky Images

Below is one of the images from the test. In the original test these were interpreted by the people taking the test: in my project the people taking part did not see these images. 

The Blacky Questions

In the original test, responses to the images were prompted with a number of questions for each image.   Some of the questions were multiple choice, with 3 or 4 possible answers for the subject to chose from. Others were open-ended. In my project, each person taking part was sent one such set, for example:

Q. Why is Billie covering it up?

(a) She wants to make as little mess as possible

(b) She doesn't want Mama and Papa to find out

(c) She automatically doing what he's been taught

Q. Which one of the following is Billie most concerned with here?

(a) Throwing dirt over what she did so it will be neatly covered up

(b) Relieving herself so her  system feels more comfortable  

(c) Getting rid of her anger

Q. How does Billie feel about the training she's been given?

(a) By relieving himself in the way she's been taught she now has an opportunity to show her family what a good dog she can be

(b) She feels Mama and Papa are expecting too much of her at this early stage

(c) She is very happy to have control of herself

(d) She thinks she's got Mama and Papa right where she wants them