SACK’S

SENTENCE
COMPLETION
TEST
 INTRODUCTION
• A sentence completion test consists of a (60) number of
incomplete sentences presented to the subject for completion.
• Allows greater individual freedom and variability of responses.
• not a standardized test and is rarely treated quantitatively.
• It may be administered to a group or as an individual test.
• Requires a minimum of supervision and this fact may be an
important consideration in many clinical situations.
 BACKGROUND
This test was developed by Joseph
H. Sacks together with other
psychologists of the New York
Veterans Administration Mental
Hygiene Service.
 BACKGROUND
The areas of focus of this test tend This Test can be used in personality
to show dominant personality trends, analysis, clinical applications, attitude
and these areas are: assessment, achievement motivation,
• Family and the measurement of other
• Sex constructs. Moreover, this is used in
• Interpersonal Relationships several disciplines.
• Self-concept.
 BACKGROUND
The Sentence Completion Test (SCT) is Reasons:
often compared to the word association
method, as they share similarities in Contextual richness
their approach to understanding the
human psyche. However, the SCT is Personalized responses
generally favored over word
association for several reasons. Enhanced understanding

Broad behavioral insight

 BACKGROUND
How is the SSCT established?
The sentence completion method has its origins in the work of
Ebbinghaus (1897), Kelly (1917), and Traube (1916) who used the
method to measure intellectual variable. There have been more recent
attempts to be used primarily in recent years as a device for personality
assessment. Payne (1928) and Tendler (1930) are generally credited with
being the first to use sentence completion measures developed slowly
during the thirties, but because of the pressures of war and the
demands of group personality assessment, many investigators developed
an interest in the technique, thus resulting in a considerable literature
dealing with the test and its application.
 BACKGROUND
How is the SSCT established?
Sundberg (1961) found that, of all the psychological tests and instruments,
the sentence completion marked 13th in frequency of use, and among the
group personality instruments, the sentence was 2nd after to HNPI. The
flexibility and popularity of the method have led to a proliferation of
sentence completion forms, the originals of which are often obscure.
Special standard sentence completion forms for use in the armed services
were developed by Bijeu (1947), Blanagant (1947), Trites, Holtman, and Sells
(1953), and Willingham (1958). The attempt of standardizing a sentence
completion form, which has most probably been rigorous had the most
impact, and provided the most stimulation for further research has been that
of Rotter and his associates.
 THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK
• Sentence completion tests delve into significant aspects of
psychological makeup
• Focus on areas of adjustment and specific clusters of attitudes
• Aim to uncover feelings and attitudes across interpersonal
relationships and personal experiences
• Adler’s concept of ego and functioning, Sullivan’s theory of
stability, and Fingarette's definition of anxiety was used in
establishing this test
 THEORETICAL
Overall,
FRAMEWORK
sentence completion tests provide a
comprehensive approach to understanding ego
functioning and personality development, offering valuable
insights into individuals' psychological makeup and
adaptive strategies for navigating life's challenges.
 TEST DESCRIPTION
The test used four areas to present the subject with sufficient opportunities
to express his attitudes so that a clinical psychologist may infer his
dominant personality trends.
The four areas covered by that test are family, sex, interpersonal relationships, and self-
concept.
• The family area includes three sets of attitudes, those toward the mother, father, and family
unit.
• The sex area includes attitudes toward women and toward heterosexual relationships
• The area of interpersonal relationships includes attitudes toward friends and acquaintances,
colleagues at work or school, and people supervised
• The area of self-concept involves fears, guilt feelings, goals, and attitudes toward one’s own
abilities, past and future
 TEST DESCRIPTION
The sentence completion test has been
used in two ways:
(a) As an independent source of
information; and
(b) As an instrument of comparison.
 TEST DESCRIPTION
What does SSCT measures?
Certain inferences can be drawn about the subject's
personality structure based on SSCT results, including
their manner of response to internal and external stimuli,
their response to stress, their nature of thinking, and the
content of their thoughts.
 ADMINISTRATION OF
TESTthe SSCT?
How to administer
• The subject is asked to read the following instructions.
• Instruction: “Below are 60 partly completed sentences. Read each one and
finish it by writing the first thing that comes to your mind. Work as quickly as
you can. If you cannot complete an item, circle the numbers and return to it
later.”
• The subject is free to ask any questions he may have about the test.
• Subjects frequently ask:
“Should I take time to think of a sensible answer?”
“Must I write only one word?”
 ADMINISTRATION OF
TESTthe SSCT?
How to administer
• When the subject is ready to respond to the first item, the beginning time should be
noted in the upper right-hand corner of the page. be noted in the upper right-hand
corner of the page.
• When he turns the paper in, the finishing time should be marked.
• Standard Method of Administration: Requires that the subject should read the
stimulus and respond to it in writing.
• ·Oral Method of Administration/Administration With Some Anxious Patients: It can
be more beneficial to administer the test orally, with the examiner reading the
incomplete sentences aloud to the patient and recording their verbal responses.
 ADMINISTRATION OF
TEST
What if the subject asks about the What if the subject asks about the
meaning of a certain word? meaning of an item?

The examiner can provide The examiner can respond in terms

clarification by giving an example of of the item's meaning to him.
what the word means in the
context of the sentence.
 INTERPRETATION AND
SCORING
To rate the subject’s degree of disturbance,
should use this Rating Scale:
the interpreter

2 – Severely disturbed. Appears to require therapeutic aid in

handling emotional conflicts in this area.
1 – Mildly disturbed. Has emotional conflicts in this area but
appears to handle them without therapeutic aid.
0 – No significant disturbance noted in this area.
X – Unknown. Insufficient evidence.
 INTERPRETATION AND
• A
SCORING
rating sheet has been developed for the SSCT, which
consolidates the four stimulus items and the subject's responses
under each attitude.
• These four (4) responses are analyzed together, and an interpretative
summary is generated to encapsulate the clinician’s impression of
the subject’s attitude in this area.
• The validity of the rating depends on the clinical background of the
examiner and the material produced by the subject
After scoring, a general summary of the findings must be made for
diagnosing the client. The summary should include:
• An overview of the areas where the subject displays the most
disturbed attitudes.
• An explanation of how attitudes relate to each other in terms of
content.
 INTERPRETATION AND
Certain influences on the SCORING
subject’s personality structure can be made based on
the SSCT, such as:
a. The subject’s manner of response to impulses from within or to stimuli
from the environment.
b. The subject’s nature of responding to stress – impulsive or well-controlled.
c. The subject’s nature of thinking: predominantly mature, showing adequate
consideration for his responsibilities and the interests and needs of others, or
immature and egocentric.
d. The subject’s thinking content: realistic, artistic, and fantastic.
 INTERPRETATIO
N AND
• It has not SCORING
been evaluated for potential
clinical usefulness below adolescent ages.
• When used for clinical purposes, the
sentence completion method shares
similarities with the Thematic Apperception
Test
• The method is highly flexible, allowing for
modifications to suit various purposes.
 STRENGTHS AND
WEAKNESSES
Strengths
• Depth of Exploration
• Flexibility
• Comprehensive Understanding
• Projective Technique
• Versatility
• Ease of Administration
• Cultural Adaptability
Weaknesses
• Subjectivity in Interpretation
• Limited Standardization
• Potential for Misinterpretation
• Reliance on Verbal Expression
• Limited Quantitative Analysis
• Possible Response Bias
• Limited Predictive Validity
SACK’S SENTENCE COMPLETION
TEST
• The Sentence Completion Test RECAP
(SCT) utilizes a projective
technique, serving as a valuable tool for unraveling the complexities
of an individual's psychological makeup.
• Developed by Joseph M. Sacks and his colleagues, this method
delves into significant areas of adjustment, including family dynamics,
sexuality, interpersonal relationships, and self-concept.
• The SSCT offers clinicians comprehensive insights into patients'
dominant personality trends, shedding light on their attitudes, feelings,
and interpersonal dynamics across various domains.
SACK’S SENTENCE COMPLETION
TEST
• The Sentence Completion Test RECAP
(SCT) utilizes a projective
technique, serving as a valuable tool for unraveling the complexities
of an individual's psychological makeup.
• Developed by Joseph M. Sacks and his colleagues, this method
delves into significant areas of adjustment, including family dynamics,
sexuality, interpersonal relationships, and self-concept.
• The SSCT offers clinicians comprehensive insights into patients'
dominant personality trends, shedding light on their attitudes, feelings,
and interpersonal dynamics across various domains.
SACK’S SENTENCE COMPLETION
TEST RECAP
• Despite its simplicity and flexibility, the SCT possesses profound
depth, capable of revealing unconscious motivations and conflicts.
• Its versatility makes it suitable for both clinical and research settings,
facilitating therapeutic interventions tailored to individual
needs.
• Through careful administration, interpretation, and scoring, the
SCT provides a window into the complexities of human behavior,
offering insights into the inner workings of the mind.