Step 3: Coding the Responses The psychologist codes each response according to specific variables. A. Location Which part of the blot was used? Whole blot (W) Common detail (D) Unusual detail (Dd) Example: Entire blot = W Small corner only = Dd----explain in detail with pictures
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Here is a thorough breakdown of Location Coding in the Rorschach Inkblot Test (Step 3A):
Step 3A: Location Coding - Which Part of the Blot Was Used?
Location is the first thing a psychologist codes after a response is given. It answers a simple but psychologically revealing question: Did the person use the entire blot, a common piece of it, or some obscure fragment?
The All 10 Rorschach Cards (for reference):
The Three Main Location Codes
1. W - Whole Blot
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Symbol | W |
| Full Name | Whole |
| What it means | The person uses the entire inkblot to form their response - nothing is excluded |
| Example | "The whole thing looks like a bat with wings spread out" (Card I - uses every part of the blot) |
| What it reflects | Ability to integrate information, big-picture thinking, organizational ability |
Psychological interpretation:
- A high number of W responses suggests the person is ambitious, thinks holistically, and tries to make sense of their entire environment at once
- Too many W responses can also reflect overreaching or difficulty with details
- W responses are expected and normal - most people give at least some
Coding rule: If even a tiny piece of the blot is excluded or ignored, it is NOT coded W.
2. D - Common Detail
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Symbol | D |
| Full Name | Common Detail (also called "Popular Detail") |
| What it means | The person uses a frequently chosen, obvious part of the blot - a large, clearly defined section that most people notice |
| Example | On Card I, pointing only to the large wing-like areas on both sides = D. On Card II, pointing only to the two large dark shapes = D |
| What it reflects | Practical, grounded thinking; attention to obvious and conventional features |
Psychological interpretation:
- D responses show the person engages with what is most salient and recognizable
- A healthy protocol has a mixture of W and D
- D responses are the most common location type in a normal population
- High D counts suggest a practical, reality-oriented approach to problems
How D areas are determined: In Exner's Comprehensive System, D areas are those selected by at least 5% of the normative population on a given card. They are pre-mapped and listed in scoring manuals.
3. Dd - Unusual (Rare) Detail
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Dd |
| Full Name | Unusual Detail (also called Rare Detail, Minor Detail) |
| What it means | The person responds to a small, uncommon, or marginal area that most people overlook - a tiny corner, a thin edge, a gap, an unusual speck |
| Example | Pointing only to a tiny notch on the top edge of Card I and saying "that little bump looks like a rabbit ear" = Dd |
| What it reflects | Unconventional thinking, hyper-attention to minute details, sometimes obsessive or idiosyncratic processing |
Psychological interpretation:
- Occasional Dd is fine and shows nuanced perception
- Excessive Dd responses can suggest obsessive tendencies, anxiety, or avoidance of the obvious
- Some Dd responses demonstrate creativity; others reveal fragmented, scattered attention
How Dd differs from D: Dd areas are chosen by fewer than 5% of the normative population. They are the leftover areas not classified as W or D.
Bonus Code: S - White Space
A fourth location code worth knowing is S (Space), where the person uses the white background/empty areas within or around the blot instead of the ink itself.
- Example: "I see a vase in the white space between the two dark shapes" = S (or DS/WS when combined with ink areas)
- Often associated with oppositional tendencies or seeing things differently from others
Summary Table
| Code | Name | Definition | Example | Psychological Implication |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | Whole | Entire blot used | "The whole thing is a bat" | Holistic thinking, ambition, integration |
| D | Common Detail | Large, obvious, frequently used section | "Just these two side shapes look like dogs" | Practical, grounded, conventional thinking |
| Dd | Unusual Detail | Small, rare, obscure part of the blot | "This tiny speck looks like an ant" | Obsessive detail, unconventional perception, creativity or anxiety |
| S | White Space | Empty white areas used | "The white part in the center looks like a mask" | Oppositionality, independence, resistance |
Why Location Matters Clinically
The pattern of location codes across all 10 cards is what a psychologist analyzes - not just one response. For example:
- A person who only uses W might be overly ambitious or struggling to analyze specific components of their world
- A person who only uses Dd might be anxious, avoidant, or obsessing over minor details while missing the big picture
- A balanced mix of W and D with occasional Dd is considered healthy and adaptive
Location coding forms the foundation before the psychologist moves to Determinants (what made it look that way - shape, color, movement) and Content (what was seen - animal, human, nature, etc.).
R-PAS has a standardized interpretive frameworkin in detail with images
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R-PAS Rorschach Performance Assessment System standardized interpretive framework pages variables 2024
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R-PAS interpretive framework Page 1 Page 2 domains variables scoring profile explained
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R-PAS Rorschach Performance Assessment System validity interpretive
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R-PAS interpretive framework domains Page 1 Page 2 variables engagement perception stress self
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