Inter and intra-rater reliability of the scoring and analysis of Bender Gestalt and Human Figure Drawing protocols in a clinical setting
Date
2014-04-03
Authors
Suttner, Vivien
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Abstract
The Bender Gestalt and the analysis of the Human Figure Drawing are amongst the most
widely used assessment tools in South Africa. This research examines the inter and intrarater
reliability of scores and diagnoses made by two clinicians from a clinical sample of
104 Bender Gestalt and Human Figure Drawing protocols. Two scoring sessions were
held, with a three week interval between them. The protocols were scored according to
the Koppitz criteria. On the basis of these results the clinicians placed each child into one
of four proscribed diagnostic categories: Exhibiting visual-perceptual difficulties;
emotional difficulties; both difficulties; neither difficulties. The results indicated
significant inter-rater differences between the raters’ diagnoses, and scoring of the
Bender Gestalt. With regards to intra-rater differences, is. individual differences from
session one to two, significant differences were evident in the scoring of the Bender
Gestalt. No significant intra-rater differences emerged on the scoring of the Human
Figure Drawing. These results indicate that there is cause for concern regarding the
reliability of clinicians’ interpretations based on The Bender Gestalt and Human Figure
Drawings.