The Validiity and Reliability of the "Draw a Rosebush" Art Assessment to Discriminate Between Abuse and Non-Abuse in Adolescents
Graduation Date
Fall 1993
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Granting Institution
Notre Dame de Namur University
Program Name
Art Therapy
Abstract
Calculations determined the reliability and validity of the "Draw a Rosebush" art assessment to differentiate between abused and non-abused subjects. Twenty subjects, average age 15, were balanced In number for group and gender. Relaxation, drawing, and post-drawing inquiry of each subject was followed by data analysis. Six raters analyzed 14 drawing characteristics and 13 statement characteristics. Standardized procedures.and forms were novel. Results demonstrated high reliability for eight characteristics (perspective, color use, and statement sorting, and statements about flowers, stems and branches, environment, appearance and climate). Reliability was borderline for 14 other characteristics (statements about the rosebush, leaves, thorns, roots, caretakers, feelings and sorted statements, drawings, first statements, and drawings with first statements). Validity was poor for all 27 drawing and statement characteristics (those listed plus hesitation, concern, care, concentration and drawing placement). Differentiation was shown on 18 characteristics (statements about rosebush, leaves, stems and branches, thorns, roots environment, appearance, caretaker, climate, feelings, sorted statements and drawing characteristics of perspective, rhythm, rule, complexity, simplexlty, expansion, compression. Integration, disintegration, growth, and poverty). Future research should Include objective guidelines to Improve the Instrument before retest.