Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB)

Developed by Julian Rotter and Janet Rafferty, the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB) represents a standardized sentence completion test to assess overall adjustment and functioning. This instrument is composed of 40 items, each representing the beginning of a written sentence (1 or 2 words) that the respondent is instructed to complete. Given the ambiguous nature of the presented information to which the readers answer freely, the RISB constitutes a projective tool that aims to differentiate the levels of adjustment between individuals. This instrument’s main goal is not to do an extensive characterization of the individual but to screen for adjustment problems and identify personality features that might be of clinical interest, consequently facilitating the process of case conceptualization and treatment planning.

Since the publication of the first version of the RSBI in 1950, other forms have been developed and validated to accommodate the evaluation of individuals of different age groups. There are currently three forms of the RISB available: the school form, the college form, and the adult form.