Short forms of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) are routinely and unquestioningly employed in clinical psychological practice. The basis for selection of appropriate cards has always been "clinical utility", i.e., those cards which will supposedly "pull" or elicit relevant information in particular areas of personality. This results in reliance upon informed clinical bias in card selection. Problems of car selection also occur in clinical research projects where demands of time and economy in test battery construction often dictate choice of a few TAT cards.