What does the methodology of unfinished proposals evaluate?

In teaching practice, there is always a need for psychological testing of students. In addition, such a need can arise in any group work. One of the universal methods is the methodology of unfinished proposals. It allows not only to better understand the students. Also, it makes it possible to conduct psychological and pedagogical diagnostics imperceptibly and qualitatively . The methodology of unfinished sentences (Sachs-Levy test) helps to identify those problems that often do not even reach a conscious level. That is what the person does not realize. It reveals the deep conflicts of personality, helps to understand the individual system of values and attitudes.

The essence of the method is quite simple. The technique of unfinished sentences is that the subject should say or write down the ending of a sentence. For example, "There is no love without ..." or "If I won a million, the first thing I would ...". Depending on what kind of sphere we want to explore, you can invent an unlimited number of phrases. You can also ask the subject to give not one but several answers. In this case, it will be important what version he proposed first. The methodology of unfinished sentences can be used both as a method of psychological testing, and as an independent game. Especially interesting it is possible to apply it in lessons of a foreign or Russian language. You can select for this game five or ten minutes at the end of the lesson. Another method is the method of "unfinished sentences" for children, performed "along the chain." For example, you can start telling a fairy tale. One participant starts the phrase, and ends it another. Then he pronounces his part of the sentence, which will be completed by the next player. The application of this technique helps not only to better understand the students, but also to relieve their tension, create an atmosphere of goodwill and play. They use it and psychologists for a variety of purposes for people of different ages. For example, when applying for a job or for brainstorming, the "unfinished proposals" technique can also be used. Interpreting it in a simple and accessible way will help to understand the value orientation of the future employee, his expectations.

This test can be carried out repeatedly. Changes that occur with people are also amenable to analysis, and they can be identified using this technique. It is only necessary to clearly develop and determine the criteria for interpretation. To do this, you can use the scales of "sequence", "logic", "creativity". That is, the completion of phrases can be evaluated from different points of view. This technique will help to reveal also the style of thinking. Sometimes it is used to diagnose mental disorders, it is quite a universal test, which can be conducted with any age group. Of course, the content of the phrases should be adapted depending on who the psychologist or the teacher is dealing with. It is also important to clearly formulate the task. The very methodology of unfinished sentences can include an unlimited number of phrases. It is also important to emphasize for the tested that there are not and can not be "right" answers. But how much the answer should be, whether it will be a choice from the proposed options (used less often) or arbitrary completion, whether it is possible to complete the text further, or whether it should be limited to one or two phrases, it is necessary to inform the subjects in advance. If the criteria are quite free, then the unfolding, logicality, associativity of the utterance will be important parameters that can be used to assess the personality and its hidden problems.