This article was downloaded by: [University of New Hampshire] On: 08 February 2015, At: 02:41 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
Journal of Personality Assessment Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/hjpa20
Cross-Cultural Validity, Reliability, and Stimulus Characteristics of the Luscher Color Test Claude M.J. Braun & James L. Bonta Published online: 10 Jun 2010.
To cite this article: Claude M.J. Braun & James L. Bonta (1979) Cross-Cultural Validity, Reliability, and Stimulus Characteristics of the Luscher Color Test, Journal of Personality Assessment, 43:5, 459-460, DOI: 10.1207/s15327752jpa4305_3 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4305_3
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
Journal of Personality Assessment, 1979,43, 5
Cross-Cultural Validity, Reliability, and Stimulus Characteristicsof the Liischer Color Test CLAUDE M. J. B R A ~ ~and N JAMES L. BONTA University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Downloaded by [University of New Hampshire] at 02:41 08 February 2015
Abstract: The Luscher Color Test (LCT) was administered to 125 Canadian university students, 88 of whom were retested 21 days later. Sample and sex-specific color preferences were found as well as discrepancies between Liischer's color-naming system and two widely used color-narnmg systems. Test-retest reliability estimates were low. It was concluded that the LCT suffers from maior shortcomines - and that research investigating the relationship between color preference and personality should follow alternate paths.
The Luscher Color Test (LCT) claims to reveal facets of personality by analyzing an individual's preference towards eight colored cards (Luscher & Scott, 1971). The test manual provides no norms for non-European cultures or for the sexes. Although 144 studies are cited by Luscher to support his claims, all are of European origin. Three investigations of the LCT have been completed in North America. The studies reported low reliability for the test (Donnelly, 1974), cross-cultural differences, and only partial validity (Donnelly, 1977; French & Alexander, 1972). However, all of thestudiesfailed to follow Luscher's administration instructions exactly, resulting in biased evaluation of the LCT. The purpose of the present study was to provide an evaluation of the LCT following strict administration of the test, using Canadian students. In addition, a more precise definition of the stimuli in the LCT was obtained.
in accordance with the Munsell and ISCC-NBS color-naming systems.
Requestsfor reprintsshould beaddressed to Claude M. J. Braiin, whose address is given at the end of thearticle.
References i Donnelly, F. A. The Liischer Color Test: Reliability and selection preferences by college stu-
Results and Conclusions Spectrophotometric analysis indicated that not all thecolors of the LCT were pure colors now did they necessarily correspond to the widely accepted Munsell and ISCC-NEIS color-naming systems. For example, Liischer's "brown" was classified "yellow-red" by the Munsell system. Test-retest Pearson correlations over each pair of trials for each respondent amounted to a grand mean coefficient of .33 @ < .01). The individual coefficients ranged from -0.88 to i-1.00. Cross-cultural and sex differences were also found. The Canadian male students showed a slight preference for red over blue in contrast to the American male students' preference for yellow (Donnelly, 1974) and the Europeans' marked preference for red (Luscher & Scott, 1971). [n addition, the Canadian Method males preferred red while the females Forty-nine male and 76 female under- preferred yellow. graduate students from a bilingual CanaClearly, the LCT is an inadequate dian university were administered the diagnostic tool. The low reliability of LCT with strict adherence to the test the test along with cultural and sex difinstructions. Of these, 35 males and 53 ferences prohibit widespread applicafemales were retested 21 days later. tion of the test. The development of a The eight colored cards of the LCT projective test based oncolor preferences were analyzed bya Hardy Spectrophoto- may be a worthy goal but the LCT is cermeter (Judd & Wyszecki, 1963)and rated tainly not the route to lead us there. An extended report, including the spectrophotometric analysis, is also available from the first author.
460
The Luscher Color Test and Cross-Cultural Validity
dents. Psvchological Reporrs, 1974,34,635-638. Donnelly, F. A. The Luscher ColorTest: Avalidity study. Perceptual and Moror Skills, 1977, 44, 17-18. French. C. A., & Alexander, A. B. The Luscher Color Test: An investigation of validity and underlving assurn~tions.Journalof Personalitv ~ssesime%,1972:36,361-365. Judd, D. B., & Wyszecki, G. Color in business, science, andindustr.v. New York: Wiley &Sons, 1963. Luscher, M., & Scott, I. The Liischer Color Test. New York: Pocket Books, 1971.
Downloaded by [University of New Hampshire] at 02:41 08 February 2015
a
Claude M. J. Braiin School of P s ~ c h o l o g ~ University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KlN6N5 Received: September 25, 1978 Revised: January 1979
Journal of Personality Assessment Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/hjpa20
Cross-Cultural Validity, Reliability, and Stimulus Characteristics of the Luscher Color Test Claude M.J. Braun & James L. Bonta Published online: 10 Jun 2010.
To cite this article: Claude M.J. Braun & James L. Bonta (1979) Cross-Cultural Validity, Reliability, and Stimulus Characteristics of the Luscher Color Test, Journal of Personality Assessment, 43:5, 459-460, DOI: 10.1207/s15327752jpa4305_3 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4305_3
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
Journal of Personality Assessment, 1979,43, 5
Cross-Cultural Validity, Reliability, and Stimulus Characteristicsof the Liischer Color Test CLAUDE M. J. B R A ~ ~and N JAMES L. BONTA University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Downloaded by [University of New Hampshire] at 02:41 08 February 2015
Abstract: The Luscher Color Test (LCT) was administered to 125 Canadian university students, 88 of whom were retested 21 days later. Sample and sex-specific color preferences were found as well as discrepancies between Liischer's color-naming system and two widely used color-narnmg systems. Test-retest reliability estimates were low. It was concluded that the LCT suffers from maior shortcomines - and that research investigating the relationship between color preference and personality should follow alternate paths.
The Luscher Color Test (LCT) claims to reveal facets of personality by analyzing an individual's preference towards eight colored cards (Luscher & Scott, 1971). The test manual provides no norms for non-European cultures or for the sexes. Although 144 studies are cited by Luscher to support his claims, all are of European origin. Three investigations of the LCT have been completed in North America. The studies reported low reliability for the test (Donnelly, 1974), cross-cultural differences, and only partial validity (Donnelly, 1977; French & Alexander, 1972). However, all of thestudiesfailed to follow Luscher's administration instructions exactly, resulting in biased evaluation of the LCT. The purpose of the present study was to provide an evaluation of the LCT following strict administration of the test, using Canadian students. In addition, a more precise definition of the stimuli in the LCT was obtained.
in accordance with the Munsell and ISCC-NBS color-naming systems.
Requestsfor reprintsshould beaddressed to Claude M. J. Braiin, whose address is given at the end of thearticle.
References i Donnelly, F. A. The Liischer Color Test: Reliability and selection preferences by college stu-
Results and Conclusions Spectrophotometric analysis indicated that not all thecolors of the LCT were pure colors now did they necessarily correspond to the widely accepted Munsell and ISCC-NEIS color-naming systems. For example, Liischer's "brown" was classified "yellow-red" by the Munsell system. Test-retest Pearson correlations over each pair of trials for each respondent amounted to a grand mean coefficient of .33 @ < .01). The individual coefficients ranged from -0.88 to i-1.00. Cross-cultural and sex differences were also found. The Canadian male students showed a slight preference for red over blue in contrast to the American male students' preference for yellow (Donnelly, 1974) and the Europeans' marked preference for red (Luscher & Scott, 1971). [n addition, the Canadian Method males preferred red while the females Forty-nine male and 76 female under- preferred yellow. graduate students from a bilingual CanaClearly, the LCT is an inadequate dian university were administered the diagnostic tool. The low reliability of LCT with strict adherence to the test the test along with cultural and sex difinstructions. Of these, 35 males and 53 ferences prohibit widespread applicafemales were retested 21 days later. tion of the test. The development of a The eight colored cards of the LCT projective test based oncolor preferences were analyzed bya Hardy Spectrophoto- may be a worthy goal but the LCT is cermeter (Judd & Wyszecki, 1963)and rated tainly not the route to lead us there. An extended report, including the spectrophotometric analysis, is also available from the first author.
460
The Luscher Color Test and Cross-Cultural Validity
dents. Psvchological Reporrs, 1974,34,635-638. Donnelly, F. A. The Luscher ColorTest: Avalidity study. Perceptual and Moror Skills, 1977, 44, 17-18. French. C. A., & Alexander, A. B. The Luscher Color Test: An investigation of validity and underlving assurn~tions.Journalof Personalitv ~ssesime%,1972:36,361-365. Judd, D. B., & Wyszecki, G. Color in business, science, andindustr.v. New York: Wiley &Sons, 1963. Luscher, M., & Scott, I. The Liischer Color Test. New York: Pocket Books, 1971.
Downloaded by [University of New Hampshire] at 02:41 08 February 2015
a
Claude M. J. Braiin School of P s ~ c h o l o g ~ University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KlN6N5 Received: September 25, 1978 Revised: January 1979
