The Comprehensive System is now entering a new era with the creation and launching of its revised version, called the CS-R.

 

Why a revision?

Because all psychological tests must be revised and renewed following the development of scientific knowledge and theories. John Exner himself was convinced that the CS will evolve and this opinion is clearly stated in the last edition of the Workbook published in 2005 just before his death.

“The system now appears to stand about as complete as possible, but it is very likely that future research will lead to the development of new approaches to coding some types of responses, or the discovery of new variables or strategies that will enhance the interpretive yield of the test. In other words, it would be foolish to assume that the Comprehensive System has reached the last pinnacle in its development.” (Pages v & vi). [Bold added]

Quote from the last Workbook (A Rorschach Workbook for the Comprehensive System, 5th ed., Exner, 2005)

 

Who could legitimately continue Exner’s work? 

The psychologists who had worked in close collaboration with him and whom he recognised as his peers, giving them authority to teach the system. One of them was a member of the research Council.

Legitimacy was also dependent on the approval of the Exner estate.

The present revision of the CS was approved by Andrea Exner, John’s daughter and head manager of Rorschach Workshops.

 

The philosophy of the revision. 

Two principles were the pillars defining the philosophy of the revision: 

 

• Loyalty to John E Exner. This meant that Exner’s core conceptions on personality, on the role of psychologists, on the structure of the Rorschach and on the fundamental aspects of the comprehensive system would never be betrayed nor modified.

• Keeping the evidence base. Recognising that the CS is built on solid evidence, it was important to maintain the base and not introduce any changes in calculations nor modifying the normative data.
   

Considering Exner’s remarks about the often-misunderstood meaning of major indices (namely DEPI, CDI and PTI) and his unfulfilled wish to introduce subdivisions in some global categories (e.g. PSV, DQvague and contents), the present revision offers the means to study the relevance of some of his ideas with further research.

 

Main features of the CS-R.

 

• New codes were introduced in the following categories: form quality, developmental quality, special codes, contents. Please note that the new codes are subdivisions of previous codes, enabling future research, they do not modify any calculation of indices.

• A new index, Constriction. This index contributes to the assessment of the validity of the protocol.

• Name changes of two indices (DEPI & CDI) for a better understanding of their significance. 

• New strategies for interpretation are added in the CS-R in accordance with the cluster interpretation steps described in the Primer.

•  Cross cultural reference data. A completely new feature!  Reference data of “non-patients” in many countries differ sometimes significantly from the US norms. The CS-R includes 23 reference data, allowing psychologists to compare a protocol to the average persons of the same culture. 

• A new software: CHESSSS2 computes the codes of a protocol and produces all the necessary reports (including the Structural Summary) according to the reference sample chosen.

• Profile sheet. CHESSSS2 also produces a profile sheet which allows an instant overview of the characteristics of a protocol. 

 

How to acquire the new manuals and the new software CHESSSS2.

 

All information on https://www.rorschach-institute.org/