Stimulus Drawing

Stimulus Drawing
Reference: Silver, R. (1991). Stimulus Drawings and Techniques in Therapy, Development, and Assessment. Ablin Press Distributors.
Purpose: Stimulus Drawings were developed for use with deaf children, and were later expanded to include learning-disabled individuals, stroke survivors, and other communication difficulties. Stimulus drawings are used to gain insight into the emotions, cognitions, and developmental maturity of individuals. They may also give information regarding problem solving, fantasy, and access to imagination. The Stimulus Drawings include 50 line drawings of people, animals, places, and things presented on 3" x 5" cards. They may be used as a therapeutic technique, a developmental technique, or as an assessment technique.
Ages: Ages 5+
Materials: 8 ½ x 11 drawing paper, colored chalk, markers, crayons
Administration: The evaluator requests that the client pick out 2 or 3 stimulus cards. The client is then asked to tell and illustrate a story using those cards. After the initial story and drawing have been completed, the client is asked to do a free drawing, or a response drawing, that also tells a story.
Inquiry: No specific inquiry is included.
Interpretation: As an assessment, Stimulus Drawings looks at the cards chosen, the drawing, and the story that follows. The evaluator considers emotional content, developmental functioning, problem solving, and access to imagination.
Strengths: This assessment focuses on creative thinking, imagination, and ability to problem solve. It may be perceived as enjoyable and non-threatening. The cards are relatively poor artistic renderings, which may alleviate some of the pressure to create masterful images.
Limitations: Stimulus Drawings need additional empirical evidence. Some argue that the poor artistic rendering makes this assessment seem nonprofessional or invalid.
Reflection: This is my idea of a fun game night in my kitchen! I think it has more potential as an art therapy intervention than as an assessment, but that may be because I do not have the appropriate manual, which would elucidate some of my confusion about the assessment’s interpretation.