Variability in Schizophrenia

In light of the multitude of studies depict ing excessive variability in schizophrenic experimental task performance, 42 schizo phrenic and 37 normal subjects were required to vary their performance between 2 widely separated points of a size continuum. The experimental task involved drawing Big and Little stick men and trees. The Big/Little ratio was computed for each subject as an index of variability as defined for this ex perimental task. The schizophrenic group ex hibited significantly smaller ratios; hence, less variability of performance than the control group. Significance of the results and their relation to studies of perceptual closure in the same subjects are discussed.