Draw-a-Person-in-the-Rain: Does Geographic Location Matter?

Abstract This pilot study examines an aspect of construct validity of the Draw-a-Person-in-the-Rain (DAPR) assessment utilizing a sample (N = 58) of third-grade public school children from three geographic regions of the United States (Great Plains, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Northwest) that differ in climate and frequency of precipitation. A scoring system was used to indicate the presence or absence of environmental elements depicted in the drawings. Results indicate a significant difference between the scores on drawings from the Great Plains and those from the Pacific Northwest sites, suggesting that the typical precipitation pattern of a given region may influence how a person responds to the DAPR task. Although findings are preliminary, they suggest that further examination of the validity of the DAPR is needed. View correction statement:Corrigendum Acknowledgments Editor's Note: Adam Graves, MA, ATR-BC, LMHC, NCC, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art Therapy Counseling at Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, OR. Leslie Jones, MA, ATR-BC, and Frances F. Kaplan, DA, ATR-BC, are adjunct faculty in the art therapy counseling department at Marylhurst University. Correspondence concerning this article may be addressed to the first author at