Using the children's apperception test with children with Asperger's Syndrome and high-functioning Autism : exploring current perceptions

Abstract

The current study investigated the use of the Children's Apperception Test with children with high-functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome. The study explored whether the participants could produce responses on the test which were projective rather than descriptive. The test was administered with four children aged six to 10, two males and two females, each with a diagnosis of high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome. Semi-structured interviews were also carried out with primary caregivers. The author presented four case studies with a cross-case analysis and discussed themes which emerged from between-case comparisons. The discussion focused on the main findings which indicated that the participants' responses were often descriptive however they also made 'environmental' projections which conveyed salient information about the participants' personalities. Recommendations for future research include using the CAT in a therapeutic manner and as part of a global assessment for autism.