The uniqueness of the TiGeR™ test task, procedure, and interpretation is based upon following design principles:
First of all, a constructive drawing of the human figure is based on the use of basic geometrical forms: a triangle, a circle and a square;
Secondly, the instruction incorporates the elements of the structured (e.g., limiting the drawing to 10 elements) and un-stractured (e.g., testee-defined number of elements) technique;
Thirdly, the interpretation is based on the interplay of three major approaches:
1. Projective analysis of unconscious individual preferences in the quantity of geometrical forms used to construct a
drawing;
2. Interpretation of a constructive Gestalt formed by the combination of the used geometrical forms (e.g., the Gestalt of 5-3-2: 5 triangles, 3 circles, and 2 squares characterizes different individual reality than 1-1-8:1 triangle, 1 circle, and 8 squares);
3. Idiographic analysis of the drawing elements, for instance, presence or absence of the essential body parts, distortion of elements, the size of the figure, and the use of the accessories.
Exploring TiGeR™ Validity and Reliability. TiGeR™ parameters from more than 3,000 drawings were compared with demographic, psychophysiology and psychosocial data. The analysis included such measures as various drawing tests, MMPI, 16-PF, EPI, Luscher test of color preferences, indicators of nervous system properties, temperamental characteristics, cognitive and emotional styles, and Coping Intelligence™ assessments (C/Q™,Libin, E., 2003, 2008). TiGeR™ constructive validity was studied by means of calculating an interclass correlation matrix. Among studied parameters were also 36 drawing subtypes based on TiGeR™ formulas, and eight meta-types that integrate 36 subtypes into a higher level taxonomy. The reliability was measured using the test-retest procedure with the following intervals: 3, 6, and 12 month. For some individual cases the reliability was measured over a 10 years period using the same standardized instruction. The analysis was performed using the Spearman paired associative measure, as well as rank correlation. Results showed high reliability of overall index of preferred geometrical forms, the geometric Gestalt (formula), and some picture elements (e.g., presence of an empty space in the human figure, presence of eyes, extended legs, square head).
Case Study: TiGeR ™ and Draw-A-Tree Test comparison analysis. A state of anxiety in geometric-human-figure- drawing, made by 43-year old Garry, is graphically represented by a triangular hat on a person's head (a symbol of a «load on one's head», and a feeling of being very confused «like a fool»). At the same time, in Garry's picture of a tree his inner anxiety surfaced in his numerous drawing strokes. A tree trunk and branches are also shaded by the edgy lines providing a channel of expressing anxiety through this graphic style.
The edges of the foliage in the tree test are shaped nervously, as so the leaves were roughly chopped. The feeling of anxiety projected in the tree drawing by edgy lines correlates with the image of a triangular hat in the geometric drawing and an image of crying' eyes (eyes in the shape of down-pointed triangles), that also indicate emotional disappointment and helplessness. The social edginess and tension that characterize Garry's relations with others (sharp edges of triangular hands of human figure), nevertheless are being suppressed as evident by the graphical representation (sharp edges of triangular hands are directed inward). A standardized psychometric test also confirmed Garry's high score on general anxiety and suppression as an employed defensive mechanism.
TiGeR™ Applicability. Test has a wide spectrum of applicability for interdisciplinary research and rehabilitation, and clinical and psychological practice. Generously illustrated and well-organized, the TiGeR™ scoring and interpretation manual makes it easy to analyze human-figure-fromgeometrical-forms drawings for immediate use in clinical practice, as well as to score the results for further statistical research. The Manual is intended for clinicians as well as researchers working with children, adults, and elderly of various educational and cultural backgrounds (e.g., non-English speaking groups).
