T.A.T.

Card 1
Scoring Guide
Longitudinal Immigrant Student Adaptation Study

Carola Suárez-Orozco

Irina L. G. Todorova

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Introduction to the T.A.T Scoring Guide

This scoring manual was especially developed for the Longitudinal Immigrant
Student Adaptation Study for the purposes of this study. It focuses on themes of
achievement and relationships, which were derived inductively after reading
stories narrated by participants from all the countries of origin involved in this
project. It is intended both as training tool for scorers and a reference guide for
sorting through ambiguous narratives or resolving disagreements in how scorers
assessed a particular item for a specific narrative.

We suggest you begin by reading through the explanations below with the
T.A.T. score sheet in hand. Make sure you understand what each scale measures
as well as how each item on the particular scale differs from the others.

Continue to use the guide as you work through each narrative until you have
internalized the scoring system. At this point refer back to it only when
necessary.

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The Ten Scales

Introduction

The first three scales, namely Definition of Success, Attribution of Success and
Resolution, are geared towards projective narratives that tell an achievement story
– regardless of whether the story is a classic McClelland story of achievement
motivation or another kind of personal achievement such as harmonious
relations with friends or family. Whether it attributes the success or failure or
not, or if there is a resolution to the story or not, it can still be an achievement
story. If the story is not as story about any kind of achievement then score as
“NRC” - no related content.

As you work, you must remember to choose scale items according to evidence
supplied by the storyteller. Be diligent about not projecting your thoughts onto the
narrative. If the storyteller didn’t say it, it isn’t so! The scales for Definition of
Success, Resolution, Concerns with Adequacy, Engaged in Task, Source of External
Pressure, and Response to External Pressure, require that you choose one item that
best represents the story. For the Attribution of Success, Expressed Affect and
Impediment scales you may choose as many items for which there is explicit
evidence in the narrative. In the Interpersonal Relationships Scale you can choose
one description of the nature of the relationship for each type of relationship
described.

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Definition of Success
The “definition of success” scale assesses how the storyteller conceptualizes
success (or failure). SCORE ONLY ONE ITEM FROM THIS SCALE. If there are
two themes score the dominant one. If that is not obvious, then score the one
that ends with a resolution.

Fame/High Level When a student tells a story in which the outcome is career
of Success fame (or loss of career fame) such as being a concert
violinist or a star in the NBA, the definition of success is
“fame.” This includes publicity around a specific event,
such as being put in the newspaper for performing well.
Score this item when the story tells about achieving high
levels of success and mastery in career, talent, community,
etc., even if fame is not mentioned.
Mastering Task When the story is mainly about learning to do something,
such as learning to play the violin, learning a language,
learning a subject at school. Again, this is scored
independently of whether the task is actually mastered or
not -- the important thing is whether they conceive of
success in this way.
Situational Stories that describe being successful in a particular
Success situation, usually a one-time event. Examples are
performing at a concert, doing a test at school, fixing a
broken violin, doing a homework problem, etc.
Relational When the story is primarily about relational tensions -
Harmony whether they successfully resolved or not, or if the story is
about the evolution of a relationship.
Not Failing If the protagonist is 1) preoccupied with the possibility or
inevitability of failure, or 2) defines the success in terms of
not having failed such as “she didn’t forget the notes,
therefore they applauded”.
Satisfaction When the protagonist in the story attains a goal for the sake
of having the skill, taking pleasure in the sense of
accomplishment. Satisfaction is also scored when the story
tells about following one's calling or heart, including in the
face of pressure to do something else.
NRC NRC - No Related Content -- indicates that the story is not a
story about achievement. If the story has a score of NRC in
this scale, it will also have NRC for the following two scales

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Attribution of Success

To what does the storyteller attribute the success (or failure), assuming the story
is an achievement story? YOU CAN SCORE MORE THAN ONE ITEM FROM
THIS SCALE, but only if they are present in pretty much equal strength. If one
of them clearly dominates, use just that item.

Innate Talent If the storyteller attributes the outcome to talent or innate

ability (or lack thereof) then assign an “innate talent”
rating. For example, if a violinist in unable to perform well
because he is tone deaf then the lack of success is due to a
lack of innate talent.
Personal Effort If the storyteller attributes a successful outcome to hard
work, practice or effort, then assign the “personal effort”
rating. This can include stories which state that one can
depend only on self, that much practice is needed to learn a
task. Sustained effort must be evident even if 'hard work' is
not explicitly stated.
Help of Others When the protagonist succeeds because a teacher, relative
or other person assists or models a process, then success is
due to the “help of others.” It is not necessary for someone
to have actually helped – only that success or the possibility
of it is attributed to that help. Talking to others about a
problem is also coded “help of others”. This item does not
contradict with the presence of "Personal Effort" and they
can be scored together.
Faith When success follows on the heels of prayer or an explicit
appeal to a higher power, then that success is attributed to
“faith.”
Fate or Chance If the narrator tells a story of success (or failure) where the
outcome is a matter of fate, inevitable or by chance, then a
“fate or chance” rating is assigned.
No attribution of If the storyteller relates a success story but doesn’t attribute
success the success (or failure) to anything, including fate or
chance, then a no attribution rating is given.
NRC No related content indicates that the story was not a story
about success.

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Resolution

The “resolution” item assesses the nature of the story’s resolution. Was the story
a success or failure, or did it end in another way? SCORE ONLY ONE ITEM
FROM THIS SCALE.

Success When the teller relates a story with a successful outcome,

then the resolution is “success.” Any task that is completed
is a success.
Failure or Poor When the teller relates a story, which ends in failure or a
Performance poor performance, then the resolution is “failure or poor
performance.” This usually , (but not necessarily) includes
statements of “can’t”, “fail”, “can’t do it”.
Escape/Avoid If the storyteller concludes with the protagonist escaping –
by physically or psychologically removing him or herself –
then the resolution is “escape.”
Giving Up This is scored if the story contains explicit mention or
suggestion of giving up, not being able to go on. It is
different from the previous item in that the protagonist
doesn't only distance oneself from the activity, but also
cannot continue, gives up in general and usually expects
not to come back to the task.
None When the story structure begs a resolution but none is
forthcoming then score “none.”
NRC When the story is not an achievement story, then score
“NRC” for no related content.

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Concerns with Adequacy

Is the protagonist worried about abilities, skills, etc.?

Present Concerns with adequacy are present if they are wondering

if they can accomplish the task, worried about whether they
have the necessary skills, talents, or ability to learn them.
In some cases "can't do it" is explicitly stated, in others sign
of low-self esteem are present.
Not Present Even if they lack the skills, but are not concerned or
uncomfortable with that, score "Not present". For example,
not-knowing to play the violin but learning pretty smoothly
without worry is a situation which will have this score.

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Engagement

What is the protagonist's relationship to the task or activity which is described in

the story?

Engaged When the protagonist is active in the task, interested, doing

it, even if s/he doesn't like it.
Disengaged Not motivated, not trying, disinterested, bored, completely
distanced.
NRC Score NRC when there is no task or activity in the story
with which to be engaged. Note the difference between
NRC and “disengaged”.

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Source of External Pressure

The “external pressure” scale shows whether there is pressure from others -- to
achieve, perform, or take a particular action -- and where it is coming from. The
simple presence of these people or situations does not automatically mean that
there is pressure from them -- there has to be a sense of tension, commands,
authority, worry about how the presentation will go, etc. Usually the child
doesn’t want to do it and is being forced, or he is not positive about doing it, but
the circumstances are such that s/he persists. For example, homework that is
difficult is scored as “external pressure from school”.

Parents Pressure from mother, father or other adult in that role.

Peers Pressure from classmates, friends, gangs.
Schools/Work/ Pressure from teachers, testing situations, homework, jobs,
Performance or concert and other types of performance situations.
NRC If there is no external pressure, then score as NRC.

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Response to External Pressure

This scale assesses how the protagonist responds to the external pressure scored
above, if it is present. Is the protagonist compliant with the pressure, or does
s/he avoid compliance?

Avoidant If the protagonist resists or avoids the external pressure,

then score as avoidant.
Compliant If the protagonist is compliant with the pressure, then score
as compliant.
NRC If there is no external pressure, then score as NRC.

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Interpersonal Relations

The “interpersonal relations” scale assesses the protagonist’s relations with

family, peers, teachers, an audience (such as in performance situations) and a
generalized “other” people along a positive (+), negative (-), neutral axis. Look
for explicit mention of these types of interpersonal relationships in the narrative.
Once you locate them, assess whether the tenor of the relationship is positive,
negative or neutral. Make sure you have identified explicit evidence in the text
for labeling a relationship positive or negative. If there is none, then assess the
relationship as neutral. If the relationship changes and there is both conflict and
connection, this does not add up to a neutral score -- score "both". If there is no
mention of this type of relationship – a peer relationship for example – then rate
the item as NRC.

Family Mention of anyone in a kinship or fictive kinship

relationship -- parents, siblings, uncles, cousins.
Peers Friends, schoolmates, competitors in musical competitions.
Audience People listening to or watching a protagonist perform,
either in school or other concerts situations.
Teachers Anyone specified as a teacher or anyone that is not a
relative or peer acting as a teacher.
Other Anyone else mentioned that does not fit into the first four
categories. For example, the protagonist is upset and does
not want to be around “anyone.” “Anyone” explicitly
mentions an interpersonal relationship but does not specify
with whom. In other cases the story refers to "a man".

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Expressed Affect

The “Expressed Affect” scale assesses the range of emotions explicitly expressed in
the narrative. SCORE AS MANY FOR WHICH THERE IS TEXTUAL
EVIDENCE. Be mindful of not projecting your affect onto the story. Score a '99'
if another affect that is not included in this scale appears in the story.

Anxiety Nervousness, worry, fear or concern.

Anger Anger, rage, being mad at someone or about something.
Positive/ Happy Happiness, joy, pride, etc.
Sad/ Depressed Sadness, unhappiness, depression, crying, etc.
Flat/ Numb Score when the storyteller fails to mention affect in a
situation that evokes feelings in the average reader. For
example, the narrator relates a story of surviving a rape, but
expresses no affect in the telling.
Shame Shame, humiliation, embarrassment, guilt, etc.
Upset/ Bad Score this when they say "… felt bad" or when there is
general discomfort or unease, yet it is not as strong as sad/
depressed.
Frustrated When frustration, disappointment, discouragement are
mentioned.
Bored Disinterest in task or activity.
Tired/ Sick Tiredness, illness or hunger.
NRC No feelings conveyed. Note the difference between NRC
and Flat/Numb. With NRC, the protagonist does not
express affect, but the situation doesn’t beg such
expression. With Flat/Numb, the protagonist does not
express affect, but the nature of the narrative begs such
expression.

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Impediment

This scale describes the tensions, barriers, and problems faced by the protagonist
in the story. They are scored if they are mentioned, independent of whether they
are overcome or not. SCORE AS MANY FOR WHICH THERE IS TEXTUAL
EVIDENCE. Score a '99' if another impediment that is not included in this scale
appears in the story.

Lack of Not having the skills, not knowing a language, how to play
Knowledge the violin, to do the homework, etc.
Discrimination/ Includes more covert and more overt negative attitudes of
Hostility others, including violence, beatings, punishment, scolding,
making fun, etc.
Poverty Explicit mention of poverty, being poor, or having to save
money, to make ends meet.
Illness/Tired An illness or lack of energy is getting in the way.
Broken Violin When the story mentions a broken violin, whether
accidentally or purposefully broken.
Unfocused/ Bored When what is getting in the way is lack of focus,
distraction, dislike of task or situation, boredom.
"Problems" Score this when unspecified problems, difficulties or
troubles are mentioned.
Substance Abuse When drugs, cigarettes, alcohol are mentioned --
independent of whether the protagonist or someone else is
using, including when there is pressure by others to use.
Confusion When the protagonist can't decide what to do, is confused,
disoriented, uncertain, undecided, "I don't know.
Parent Situations in which the child wants to play the violin, but
disapproves of the parents are forbidding or have another idea of what the
child playing child should be doing/playing.
violin
Loneliness/ No When the protagonist is lonely, alone and disliking it, when
One to Help. there is no one to help when help is needed.
NRC No impediment.

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