Personality Assessment: Quiz #2

What do the MMPI-2 validity scales measure?

Test-taking attitudes and approaches that may distort results.

What happens if validity scale results show extreme deviations?

The protocol is invalid and cannot be interpreted.

What are the MMPI-2 validity scales?

Cannot Say (?), TRIN, VRIN, L, F, Fb, Fp, FBS, K, S.

What does the Cannot Say (?) scale measure?

The number of unanswered or double-marked items.

What does TRIN stand for?

True Response Inconsistency Scale.

What does TRIN measure?

A tendency to say all “true” or all “false” regardless of item content.

What does VRIN stand for?

Variable Response Inconsistency Scale.

What does VRIN measure?

Inconsistent responses to similar or opposite items.

What does the L (Lie) scale measure?

Unsophisticated defensiveness; describing oneself in an unrealistically positive way.

What does an L scale T ≥ 80 mean?

Dishonesty; claiming virtues and denying flaws beyond typical.

What does the K (Correction) scale measure?

Subtle defensiveness; overly positive self-description.

What does a K scale T ≥ 75 mean?

Defensive, overly favorable self-description.

What does the S (Superlative Self-Presentation) scale measure?

Highly virtuous, responsible, free of problems.

What indicates which clinical scales are the highest in the profile?

code types

Code types are limited to what?

2 or 3 highest clinical scale scores

For most two—point code types, the numbers are what?

interchangeable

We can only interpret only what kind of code types?

defined code types

The lowest clinical scale included in the code type is at least what?

5 T score points higher than the next highest clinical scale in the profile

What are the subscales of the clinical scales called?

harris-lingoes scales

When are Harris-Lingoes subscales interpreted?

T score is greater than 65

Content scales are interpreted when T scores are what?

greater than 65

Content component scales are only interpreted when?

the parent content scale is greater than 65

If completion time is 2 or more hours, what should we consider?:

• psychological disturbance

• obsessive indecision

• cerebral impairment

If completion time is less than 60 minute, consider:

• an invalid profile

• impulsive personality

What is the F back scale?

measures same as the F scale for the last 197 questions

measures extent to which a person answers in an atypical or deviant style

F (Infrequency) scale

identifies individuals who are faking bad even if they are psychiatric patients

Fp

designed to measure malingering for people with somatic symptoms seeking disability cases

FBS - symptom validity scale

measures extent to which a person describes themselves in an unrealistically positive manner

L scale

determines if persons describing themselves in overly positive manner.

• identifies psychologically sophisticated individuals who may not elevate the L scale but will elevate the K scale for defensive response patterns

K (correction) scale

identifies individuals who are minimizing distress and attempting to present themselves in a favorable light

S (superlative) scale

used to help clarify and refine the meaning of clinical scale elevations

Harris-Lingoes scales

supplements to clinical scales

content scales

Which scales do we exclude when interpreting code types?

scales 5 or 0

Provides information regarding the accuracy of self-report

validity scales

What are the two types of validity scales?

non-content based and content-based

How many items are on the MMPI-2?

567

What are the requirements for a test-taker?

At least 18 years old, English speaking, and 6th-grade reading level.

How are MMPI-2 scores reported?

Raw scores are converted to T-scores (M = 50, SD = 10).

What is the normal completion time for the MMPI-2?

60-90 minutes

At what T-score is a scale considered elevated?

T ≥ 65.

How many blanks make a profile invalid?

30 or more.

What are the 10 MMPI-2 clinical scales by number?

1 = Hypochondriasis
2 = Depression
3 = Hysteria
4 = Psychopathic Deviate
5 = Masculinity-Femininity
6 = Paranoia
7 = Psychasthenia
8 = Schizophrenia
9 = Hypomania
0 = Social Introversion

Why are clinical scales often referred to by number instead of name?

Because they are not pure measures of the disorder their name suggests.

What approach was used to construct the original MMPI?

Empirical keying approach.

What does empirical keying mean?

Test items are selected based on their ability to differentiate between groups (e.g., depressed vs. non-clinical).

Who can administer the MMPI-2?

A trained psychologist or supervised psych assistant.

What is the mean and standard deviation of MMPI-2 T-scores?

M=50; SD=10