MARI Card Test: Validation and Modification

This article presents the results of validation and modification of the MARI card test, developed by Joan Kellogg for the full diagnostics of personality through archetypal symbols. We acknowledged the absence of specific indicators of validity and reliability for this diagnostics, as well as found advantages that favorably distinguish this projective method from others. The object of our research is the psychological characteristics of the cards that are the stimulus material of this technology. We studied it using the following tools: the questionnaire of neurotic tendencies of K.K. Yakhin; the five-factor person questionnaire by R. McCray; the methods of SAN by V. Doskin; the scales of psychological well-being by K. Riff; the existence scales by A. Langle. Such a large choice may be explained by the fact that the inspected theory covers a wide range of personality from states to more stable traits. We used the dichotomous transformation to transition from the qualitative scale of man-dala selection to the rank scale. After it, we applied cluster analysis to reduce the number of "non-choices" mandalas and to create the possibility of performing correlation analysis. Spearman's correlation analysis and factor analysis were used on the selected clusters, in order to establish their relationships and identify the possible structure. In addition, Spearman's correlation analysis was used to test the psychological characteristics of cards between the selected clusters and the objective diagnostic data. Based on the analysis presented, the values of these cluster where established, which means that mandalas - pictures also were valued. These values mostly match to the ideas proposed by J. Kellogg as a stable characteristic of a symbol. Each of four clusters got its empirical meaning: 1 for «well-being», 2 for «development», 3 for «ill-being», 4 for «alienation», but value of the fourth cluster requires further research. Not all the mandalas received an accurate and theoretical-relevant characteristic, so, in using this technique, we come across confines, also described in our work. To facilitate the interpretation, we proposed a vector structure with which it would be easier to characterize the choice of a participant. We suggest a further research of MARI-test with using the content analysis. It may be a correlation between small descriptions about the selected mandalas and the epithets proposed by J. Kellogg, which arose during her clinical researches. In our opinion, the using of it will be the easiest way to find out if these cards have a basic, sustainable value and if they can be used as a screening diagnostics.

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