Research Programme
Active areas of investigation
Active Research Areas
Stimulus Equivalence and Digital Reproduction
This programme examines whether digitised projective stimuli maintain perceptual and psychological fidelity to their physical originals. As the Institute continues its systematic digitisation of archival materials in partnership with J. B. Fowler (Precision Stimuli), it is essential to establish whether subjects respond identically to digital and physical presentations of the same stimulus. The programme employs paired-administration protocols in which subjects complete matched physical and digital assessments under controlled conditions, with response patterns compared across dimensions of the Croft Classification System.
Validation is conducted against the perceptual equivalence standards established by the Perceptual Analytics Group (PAG-PAS-001). Preliminary findings suggest strong equivalence for achromatic stimuli but measurable variance for those with fine tonal gradations, a finding with implications for archival digitisation standards across the field.
Lead: Dr. H. Sorensen · Partner: J. B. Fowler (Precision Stimuli)
Construct Stability Across Populations
This programme investigates the stability of projective constructs when measured across different demographic populations and cultural contexts. Building on the foundational cross-population variance research conducted by Prof. Richard S. Taneja during his tenure on the Institute’s Board of Governors, the programme examines whether the 47 response dimensions of the FIM-800 exhibit consistent factor structures across culturally and linguistically distinct populations, or whether certain dimensions demonstrate systematic variance that would complicate cross-population comparisons.
The programme was paused during the 2024 institutional review pending revision of methodological protocols to incorporate additional safeguards. It resumed in early 2025 under revised protocols developed by the Director of Research Integrity, Dr. Cordelia March.
Lead: Dr. J. Roth · Ref: Taneja (1982)
Archival Preservation Standards
This programme develops and maintains best-practice standards for the long-term preservation of projective assessment materials. Current work includes the refinement of climate-control specifications for paper-based stimulus materials (optimal conditions: 18°C, 45% relative humidity), the development of handling protocols for fragile or chemically unstable materials, the establishment of condition monitoring schedules for the Institute’s restricted holdings, and the documentation of provenance standards for newly accessioned materials.
The programme also maintains the Institute’s disaster recovery and conservation prioritisation framework, last revised in 2023.
Lead: Dr. M. Keller · Internal reference: IPS-CONS-2023-01
Ethical Frameworks for Projective Assessment
This programme advances the ethical governance of projective assessment instrument design and deployment. Current focus areas include transparency standards for construct documentation, the role of independent certification in maintaining assessment integrity, consent frameworks for the collection and archival of individual response data, and the ethical obligations of institutions that maintain archival collections of projective materials.
The programme was significantly expanded following the 2024 institutional review. New protocols include mandatory stimulus vetting for all materials used in active research, enhanced informed-consent documentation for archival donations, and formalised external ethics consultation requirements.
Lead: Dr. C. March · External consultation: Perceptual Analytics Group
Cross-Cultural Response Patterns
This programme compares projective response distributions across cultural and linguistic contexts, extending the Institute’s historical commitment to population-level validation. The programme draws on both the Institute’s archival holdings and contemporary data collection from partner institutions. Particular attention is paid to whether response dimensions identified in Western European populations generalise to East Asian, South Asian, and sub-Saharan African samples.
The programme also examines the relationship between response latency and cultural context, building on unpublished work by Prof. Judith K. Alpern on temporal classification patterns in different linguistic populations.
Lead: Dr. J. Roth · Ref: Alpern (1992)
Methodological Standards
The Institute’s research programme operates within a framework of established methodological standards. The Croft Classification System, first published in 1971 and revised in 1978, provides the foundational taxonomy for all projective response classification conducted under the Institute’s auspices. The Standard Perceptual Reference Set (SPRS), developed 1967–1973, remains the normative reference for stimulus selection and administration protocols.
Where Institute research intersects with commercial or third-party applications, reference is made to external certification standards, including those maintained by the Perceptual Analytics Group (PAG-PAS-001, PAG-AIR-009). The Institute does not itself certify commercial assessment products. Full standards bibliography in the Reading Room →