Sask. MD's Wikipedia posting of ink blots angers psychologists
Dr. James Heilman, who works in Moose Jaw, posted the 10 symmetrical images under the Wikipedia entry for "Rorschach test" in June.
The five black-and-white and five colour images are used by psychologists to help diagnose personality and emotional disorders. They show them to patients and ask them what they see and then analyze the answers.
The test is also used to assess the psychological functions of criminals.
Heilman, who is not a psychologist, posted the images on June 16, and within a few hours, they were removed by another Wikipedia contributor.
The images were soon restored, and last week, another Wikipedia contributor added the most common interpretations patients provide for each image. As of Friday, the article had been locked by Wikipedia, with the images and interpretations left intact.
Battle of the blobs
Debate online and offline about the images has ensued, with some psychologists claiming the test has now been compromised, because with access to the images and interpretations, people may interpret them based on the most common responses rather than their own analysis.
"Lawyers will very quickly become aware that this information is out there and invalidate the test — either coach their clients on how to respond or just simply question the results," said Keith Dobson, a clinical psychologist, at the University of Calgary.
The group that represents Canadian psychologists has also raised concerns about the Wikipedia entry.
"The overriding concern is that once any test shown to be reliable is released to the public, it really does compromise its usefulness," said Karen Cohen, executive director of the Canadian Psychological Association.
Cohen added that posting the interpretations and images of the Rorschach test could open the door to compromising other psychological tests.
Doctor defends actions
"They teach them routinely in every Psychology 110 class, which probably tens of thousands of people take every year," Heilman told CBC News Thursday.
Heilman, who has been an editor with Wikipedia for one year, said he has been flooded with messages from psychologists around the world who are upset he published the images.
"I think they feel insecure about their profession," Heilman said.
'I think they feel insecure about their profession.' —Dr. James Heilman, emergency doctor in Moose Jaw
The Rorschach test was created in 1921 by Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach. The images and interpretations have been published before in books, and a German publisher of the images has threatened to sue Wikipedia for posting them.
Some psychologists, however, say the test has already lost its popularity and usefulness.
"Many students do not learn the Rorschach," said University of Regina psychology professor Thomas Hadjistavropoulos.