Presentation slide

Tadahiro Sado (Tokoha University, Japan) ◎Megumi Yama (Kyoto Gakuen University, Japan) Jean Baratgin (University of Paris VIII, France) Frank Jamet (University of Cergy-Pontoise, France) Hiroshi Yama(Osaka City University, Japan)

Prof. Hiroshi Yama

Dr. Tadahiro Sado

Prof. Megumi Yama

The Baum test (Tree test) is a psychological assessment method with therapeutic value. Karl Koch (1906-1958) , Zurich Switzerland Der Baumtest (1949) 88pages ⇨ English translation (1952) , with some critical mistranslatings. Der Baumtest 2nd edition（1954） 239pages Der Baumtest 3rd edition （1957） 259pages Translated into 11 languages

In Japan, this method gained popularity in clinical settings since 1970, when the first translation was published, although this translation was from English version. In clinical practice in this context its therapeutic value has been recognized. However, wider information about the changing frequencies of appearances for the indexes of children’s development has not been ascertained, due to a lack of developmental research involving the Baum test. Additionally, very few studies have been conducted on the test from a cross-cultural perspective.

To address this, the current study collected tree drawings from children in the three cultures of Japan, France, and New Caledonia, which were then analyzed from a statistical perspective. The purpose was to clarify the developmental features of the Baum test in detail, and to examine universal representations of development that do not depend on cultural differences.

Participants

FR: French 442 (age 5-12) NC: New Caledonian 459 (age 4-12) JP: Japanese 177 (age 6-12)

Period: 2011, 2014, group method Materials: pencil and A4 white paper Instruction: JP (in Japanese) “Minonaruki o kaitekudasai. (Please draw a fruit tree)” FR & NC (in French) “ Dessine un arbre au crayon de papier” (Draw a tree on paper with a pencil)

All the ‘Baums’ (the trees drawn in the Baum test) were evaluated using Koch’s 58 indexes. Inter-rater reliability was ensured for this evaluation (r=.937). The frequencies of appearances for the indexes were compared between all 3 groups. In this study, we focused on the early forms (Koch, 1957) indexes which appear in the early stage of development and disappear later .

Principal results were summarized as per the following 4 points.

１）Eight indexes: The frequencies of appearance were very low at all age stages in all 3 cultural groups. ２）Three indexes: The frequencies of appearance were similar in all age stages among the 3groups. ３）There were some characteristic indexes for JP. ４）There were some characteristic indexes for NC.

The following eight indexes had a frequency of almost below 5 % at all age stages in the 3 cultural groups. (The number in parentheses refers to Koch’s index number). 1. Pure horizontal branches (N0.1) 2. Pure angled branches(No.10) 3. Leaves and fruits on the trunk (No.14) 4. Oversized fruits and leaves (No.23) 5. Space displacements (No.27) 6. Curved and too-long branches (No.39) 7. Curved and space-filling branches (No. 40) 8. Ladders (No. 49)

Therefore some developmental traits shown by those indexes indicated little differences among the 3 groups.

→ There is a possibility that those indexes will not be sensitive to the understanding of development.

Three indexes (below) showed similar frequencies at every age stage among the 3 groups.

1. Straight branches (No.3) 2. Branches to the ground (No.12) 3. Trunk without crown/with brief branches (No.15)

Straight branches (No. 3) ↓

↑ Branches to the ground (No. 12)

Trunk without crown/with brief branches (No. 15) ↓

% 40

30

20

10

0 3

4

5

6

7

8

9

FR

10

NC

11

JP

Age

frequency of appearance

% 30

20

10

0 3

4

5

6

7

8

FR

9

10

NC

11

JP

Age

frequency of appearance

% 60

40

20

0 3

4

5

6

7

8

FR

9

10

NC

11

JP

Age

frequency of appearance

1. Straight branches (3) 2. Branches to the ground (12) 3. Trunk without crown/with brief branches (15)

→ They may have the potential to be universal development indexes.

1. Straight trunk-upper end (No.42) 2. Straight branch-tip end (No.43) 3. Piled forms (No.46) 4. Single-branch stroke (No.9) 5. Double-branch stroke (No.7)

Straight branch-tip end (No. 43).

Additive forms (No. 46).

1.2.3 These three indexes below have something to do with a task of schematic model and that of apical termination.

Straight trunk-upper end (No. 42).

Koch(1957) mentions, “Perhaps, these structures (of straight trunk-upper end and straight branch) are the first attempt for ordering, which leads to schematizing.” As for additive form, piling up is considered to be constructing, too.

% 80 60

40

20

0 3

4

5

6

8

FR

9

10

NC

11

JP

Age

JP overcame the straight trunk-upper end task at an earlier stage compared to FR and NC.

7

frequency of appearance

% 60

40

20

0 3

FR

4

NC

5

JP

7

8

9

10

11

However, schematic representation of the straight branch-tip end for JP also remained until the age of 11.

6

Age

frequency of appearance

% 30

20

10

0 3

4

5

FR

6

NC

8

JP

9

10

11

Age

In the additive forms for FR and NC, we can see some of their difficulty in terminating the upper end of a trunk.

7

frequency of appearance

100

% 80 60 40 20 0 年少

フランス

ﾆｭｰｶﾚﾄﾞﾆｱ

日本（岸本）

年中

年長

小1

小2

小3

小4

小5

小6

22

frequency of appearance

% 60

40

20

0 年少

年中

年長

小1

小2

小3

小4

フランス

ﾆｭｰｶﾚﾄﾞﾆｱ

小6

日本（岸本）

小5

23

frequency of appearance

These results show that Japanese children overcame the straight trunk-upper end (schematic model) task, and transferred to the double-branch stroke at an earlier stage compared to French and New Caledonian children, but schematic representation of the straight branch-tip end also remained until the age of 11. French and New Caledonian children, however, grappled with the straight trunk-upper end until ages 8 to 9.

Single-trunk stroke (No. 5).

Double-trunk stroke (No. 7)

% 40 30

20

10

0 3

4

5

6

8

FR

9

NC

10

JP

11

Age

Many previous studies have indicated that the single-trunk stroke disappears almost completely at the age of 7.

7

frequency of appearance

% 100

80

60

40 3

4

5

6

FR

8

NC

9

JP

10

Koch

11

Age

Therefore, this point is very interesting findings in this study.

7

frequency of appearance

Therefore, it is considered that culture may affect both indexes. This is a new finding, since many previous studies have just indicated that the single-trunk stroke disappears almost completely at the age of 7. As you see from these 2 figures, frNC (frequencies of the appearance in NC children’s drawing ) are similar to frJA and frFR after the age 7, but before that, they are quite different.

Some early form indexes do not depend on cultural differences, but others are influenced by them.

These findings can lead to further crosscultural research involving the Baum test.

Dziękuję bardzo. Merci beaucoup. Thank you very much. ありがとうございました。