ABSTRACT
Rorschach believed so strongly that freedom of association is a necessary condition of valid perceptanalytic examinations that he advised against rigid and restraining procedures. He never used a stop watch. Many psychologists still think that timing disturbs the subject. There is no doubt that timing introduces a disturbing element unless it is done quietly and discreetly. There are cases when it is wise to refrain from using the stop watch, for otherwise no satisfactory cooperation can be obtained. In the vast majority of cases, however, timing is quite feasible and helpful. The gains outweigh the possible or real disadvantages. When a subject asks about the purpose of timing or otherwise shows distraction because of timing, he may be reassured by being told that it is of little importance and significant only when an extremely long or short time is taken but that this happens rarely. Actually only about 1 or 2 per cent of the subjects raise the question of timing directly or indirectly. In this era of widespread testing people do not seem to object to being timed. When the subject cooperates voluntarily and is genuinely interested in having the test results contribute to the solution of his problems, timing presents no difficulty.
