Johnathan D. Forbey

Computerized Adaptive Personality Testing: A Review and Illustration With the MMPI-2 Computerized Adaptive Version

Computerized adaptive testing in personality assessment can improve efficiency by significantly reducing the number of items administered to answer an assessment question. Two approaches have been explored for adaptive testing in computerized personality assessment: item response theory and the countdown method. In this article, the authors review the literature on each and report the results of an investigation designed to explore the utility, in terms of item and time savings, and validity, in terms of correlations with external criterion measures, of an expanded countdown method-based research version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), the MMPI-2 Computerized Adaptive Version (MMPI-2-CA). Participants were 433 undergraduate college students (170 men and 263 women). Results indicated considerable item savings and corresponding time savings for the adaptive testing modalities compared with a conventional computerized MMPI-2 administration. Furthermore, computerized adaptive administration yielded comparable results to computerized conventional administration of the MMPI-2 in terms of both test scores and their validity. Future directions for computerized adaptive personality testing are discussed.

Empirical correlates of the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales in a nonclinical setting.

We examined the empirical correlates of the MMPI–2 Restructured Clinical (RC; Tellegen et al., 2003) scales in a nonclinical setting. We administered 12 criterion measures assessing variables expected to be associated differentially with the RC Scales along with the MMPI–2 to a sample of 1,038 college students (Men, N = 407; Women, N = 631). Criteria included measures of somatization, depression, Machiavellian negativism, drug and alcohol abuse, anger, anxiety, social phobias, obsessive–compulsive tendencies, magical ideation, perceptual aberration, lability, and impulsivity. Results demonstrate good convergent and discriminant validity for the RC scales and add to a growing body of empirical correlates of these scales.

A Review of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—Adolescent (MMPI-A) and the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI) With an Emphasis on Juvenile Justice Samples

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—Adolescent (MMPI-A) and Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI) are frequently used objective personality self-report measures. Given their widespread use, the purpose of the current study was to examine and compare the literature base for the two instruments. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted between the years 1992 and 2007 using the PsycINFO Database. Results indicate the publication of 277 articles, books, book chapters, monographs, and dissertation abstracts on the MMPI-A. This was compared with the results of a comparable search for the MACI, which yielded 84 citations. The literature was further explored by determining the content of the topic areas addressed for both instruments. A particular focus was placed on the utility of the instruments with juvenile justice populations; scale means, standard deviations, and effect sizes calculated from this literature were examined. Results indicate that the use of the MMPI-A is supported by a substantial literature and a growing research base is also available for the MACI. Both instruments appear to provide useful results in juvenile justice settings.

Associations between MMPI-2-RF validity scale scores and extra-test measures of personality and psychopathology.

The current study explored associations between two potentially invalidating self-report styles detected by the Validity scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), over-reporting and under-reporting, and scores on the MMPI-2-RF substantive, as well as eight collateral self-report measures administered either at the same time or within 1 to 10 days of MMPI-2-RF administration. Analyses were conducted with data provided by college students, male prisoners, and male psychiatric outpatients from a Veterans Administration facility. Results indicated that if either an over- or under-reporting response style was suggested by the MMPI-2-RF Validity scales, scores on the majority of the MMPI-2-RF substantive scales, as well as a number of collateral measures, were significantly affected in all three groups in the expected directions. Test takers who were identified as potentially engaging in an over- or under-reporting response style by the MMPI-2-RF Validity scales appeared to approach extra-test measures similarly regardless of when these measures were administered in relation to the MMPI-2-RF. Limitations and suggestions for future study are discussed.

Using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) to Detect Psychological Distress and Dysfunction in a State Correctional Setting

Approximately 1.3 million men and 93,000 women are currently detained in state and federal correctional facilities. The ability to identify upon admission to a correctional facility those individuals who either have or are at an increased risk for developing significant psychological difficulties is crucial in order to allow early detection of inmates requiring mental health services. This study investigates the frequency with which 34,281 male and 6,878 female inmates from a state corrections facility reported significant levels of distress and dysfunction upon intake to the correctional system as measured by various clinical scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Results indicate that a substantial proportion of incarcerated adults reported significant levels of distress across a variety of psychological, social, and behavioral domains.

An Exploration of the Impact of Invalid MMPI–2 Protocols on Collateral Self-Report Measure Scores

Although a number of studies have examined the impact of invalid MMPI–2 (Butcher et al., 2001) response styles on MMPI–2 scale scores, limited research has specifically explored the effects that such response styles might have on conjointly administered collateral self-report measures. This study explored the potential impact of 2 invalidating response styles detected by the Validity scales of the MMPI–2, overreporting and underreporting, on scores of collateral self-report measures administered conjointly with the MMPI–2. The final group of participants included in analyses was 1,112 college students from a Midwestern university who completed all measures as part of a larger study. Results of t-test analyses suggested that if either over- or underreporting was indicated by the MMPI–2 Validity scales, the scores of most conjointly administered collateral measures were also significantly impacted. Overall, it appeared that test-takers who were identified as either over- or underreporting relied on such a response style across measures. Limitations and suggestions for future study are discussed.

Correlates of MMPI-A Scales in Acute Psychiatric and Forensic Samples

The purpose of this study was to expand the empirical basis for interpretation of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–Adolescent (MMPI–A; Butcher et al., 1992). Participants were 157 boys from a forensic setting and 197 girls from an acute psychiatric inpatient setting. Criterion variables were identified from sources such as psychiatrist report, parent report, and psychosocial history. Results generally support the construct validity of MMPI–A scales. Scales measuring internalizing problems were more highly correlated with criterion measures of internalizing behaviors than measures of externalizing behaviors, whereas scales measuring externalizing problems were more highly correlated with externalizing variables than with internalizing criteria. Implications of this study include an expanded empirical foundation for interpretation of the MMPI–A, greater understanding of the constructs it measures, and evidence supporting the generalizability of these constructs across settings.

Psychometrics and Comparison of the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory and the Sexual Compulsivity Scale in a Male College Student Sample

The current study examined and compared the psychometric properties of the Sexual Compulsivity Scale and the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory in male college students. Participants included 334 male undergraduate students enrolled in Introductory Psychology courses. Zero-order correlation analyses were conducted and statistically compared to identify sexual behaviors and constructs significantly and differentially related to scores on the CSBI and SCS. Examination of the results suggests both of the compulsivity scales have good evidence for reliability and validity in a male college student sample, but may measure somewhat different aspects of compulsivity. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

The Classification Accuracy of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory--Adolescent: Effects of Modifying the Normative Sample.

Numerous studies have reported that the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A) produces a high frequency of within-normal-limits basic scale profiles for adolescents with significant clinical pathology (e.g., Archer, 2005). The current study builds on the observation that the MMPI-A normative sample included participants who reported a recent history of referral for counseling or therapy services. The 193 adolescents who reported referral for counseling were removed from the normative sample and uniform T-score values were recalculated for basic clinical scale raw scores. The frequency of within-normal-limits profiles was only marginally reduced by using the revised MMPI-A norms. Furthermore, the overall hit rate, positive predictive power, and sensitivity were only slightly improved by removing normative participants referred for counseling and basing norms on the remaining 1,427 adolescents.

Distinguishing personality psychopathology Five (PSY-5) characteristics associated with violent and nonviolent juvenile delinquency

This study examined the relationship between the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–Adolescent (MMPI–A) Personality Psychopathology Five (PSY–5) scales and violent and nonviolent juvenile delinquency. Participants were 260 adolescent boys and girls in a forensic setting. Results indicated that Disconstraint (DISC), a marker of behavioral disinhibition and impulsivity, was associated with nonviolent delinquency, whereas Aggressiveness (AGGR), which is characterized by the use of instrumental aggression and interpersonal dominance, was specifically associated with violent delinquency. These findings are consistent with expectations based on empirical findings in the broader personality literature linking the construct of disinhibition with externalizing psychopathology as well as the literature identifying callous-unemotional aggression as a risk factor for violence.