Also known as the Z-test, the Zulliger test is a projective technique that aims to describe characteristics of our personality in a simple and effective way, without losing the interpretive modality of psychoanalysis.
The Zulliger Test for personnel selection was born from the need to create a test that could be applied to a group without losing the reliability or validity of a psychometric test. Dare to discover the secrets of this very interesting personality test in the following Psychology-Online article.
The Zulliger test: description and origin
During World War II, the Swiss army set out to select the most suitable candidates to join the army and occupy official positions. But for this it was necessary for them to go through a psychological test or test and, in this way, evaluate the mental abilities of the candidates.
Hans Zulliger He was the chief psychological services officer at the time and began administering the Rorschach test to people to assess their personality. Shortly after, he realized that he needed a tool that could be applied more quickly and to an entire group of people at the same time.
With this objective, Hans Zulliger decided to develop a test based on the Rorschach sheets and the Bero test. However, he wanted it to be simpler and with more specific administration guidelines that would allow this test to be applied collectively. In this way, it was born the Zulliger test for personnel selection.
How to do this test?
This projective technique consists of three sheets with a spot on each one (very similar to those of the ). These stains must be interpreted and, with each interpretation, the appropriate professional must develop a psychological profile. The manual for interpreting the responses of the Zulliger test contains many more factors that help to improve the validity and reliability of the test. This represents a great challenge for projective techniques since they are often criticized precisely for having a too subjective interpretation.
Zulliger test answer manual
In order to use this projective technique, it is necessary that the person responsible for personnel selection be trained and prepared to administer the sheets. It is usually said that the procedure lasts between three and four hours, depending on the type of interpretation of the Zulliger test.
Individual Mode
First, you need a quiet space where the person who is going to answer the questions can focus. Next, the psychologist or professional must present the following instructions:
- “I am going to present three sheets with an image in each one. These images have been made at random and do not represent any specific figure. However, each person can interpret or imagine concepts, stories, sensations…what you should do next is describe to me what you see in each stain.“
Collective modality
The Zulliger test can also be applied in a group mode to speed up the testing process. To do this, the same projected sheets can be presented so that the entire group can see them and communicate the same premise. However, to speed up the process, people who answer the test must do so on a sheet of paper.
Response phase
To correctly interpret this test, you must use a recording sheet where the literal answers of each person will be recorded. To improve the validity of the test, another subsequent instruction must be followed:
- “Now you need to tell me where in the drawing or figure you saw each thing you describe on the answer sheet and what factor made you think about it”
Once all the data is collected, we can proceed to interpret the responses. To do this, a series of very specific factors are taken into account such as response time, the number of responses for each sheet, the determinants, the content of the responses…
Zulliger test sheets
As we have mentioned previously, the Zulliger test for personnel selection only consists of three sheets. In them you can see spots that, as defined in the slogan, were created randomly and without the intention of resembling any object, animal or person.
- The first sheet is presented without colors, only white, gray and black. It is considered the most compact sheet and through which the specialist can interpret more information.
- In the second sheet you can see more colors: red, green and ocher in different levels of intensity. Figures of animals facing each other and movements are normally observed. This sheet is related to the ability to organize.
- This last sheet combines red tones with shades of black and gray, it is usually interpreted as the sheet of interpersonal relationships.
The Zulliger Online Test
At the end of this article, you can find the three pictures in better quality so that you can interpret for yourself what you see in them. If you want to know your personality better, it is recommended that you take tests like the following: .
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.