Hi, benfranklin-ga!
The following references should provide you with some helpful
information concerning both the MMPI-2 and the Cattell 16PF tests. I
have also found some interesting material concerning possible
distortions of the Impression Management Scale. For more detailed
information about the scoring of the 16PF, however, I recommend that
you get a copy of the "16PF Fifth Edition Administrator's Manual: With
Updated Norms". (referenced below)
Since the evaluation of the clients started with the MMPPI-2 test, I
decided to start there and then proceed to the Cattell 16PF and the
Impression Management Scale.
===================================================
MINNESTOTA MULIPHASIC PERSONALITY INVENTORY (MMPI-2
===================================================
What is the test for?
Who should administer the test?
From the Health AtoZ website
http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/minnesota_multiphasic_personality_inventory_mmpi-2.html
Definition:
"The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2; MMPI-A) is a
written psychological assessment, or test, used to diagnose mental
disorders."
Purpose:
"The MMPI is used to screen for personality and psychosocial disorders
in adults and adolescents. It is also frequently administered as part
of a neuropsychological test battery to evaluate cognitive
functioning."
Precautions:
"The MMPI should be administered, scored, and interpreted by a
clinical professional trained in its use, preferably a psychologist or
psychiatrist. The MMPI is only one element of psychological
assessment, and should never be used alone as the sole basis for a
diagnosis. A detailed history of the test subject and a review of
psychological, medical, educational, or other relevant records are
required to lay the groundwork for interpreting the results of any
psychological measurement."
"Cultural and language differences in the test subject may affect test
performance and may result in inaccurate MMPI results. The test
administrator should be informed before psychological testing begins
if the test taker is not fluent in English and/or has a unique
cultural background."
Description:
"The original MMPI was developed at the University of Minnesota and
introduced in 1942. The current standardized version for adults 18 and
over, the MMPI-2, was released in 1989, with a subsequent revision of
certain test elements in early 2001. The MMPI-2 has 567 items, or
questions, and takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete. There
is a short form of the test that is comprised of the first 370 items
on the long-form MMPI-2. There is also a version of the inventory for
adolescents age 14 to 18, the MMPI-A."
"The questions asked on the MMPI are designed to evaluate the
thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and behavioral traits that comprise
personality. The results of the test reflect an individual's
personality strengths and weaknesses, and may identify certain
disturbances of personality (psychopathologies) or mental deficits
caused by neurological problems."
"There are six validity scales and ten basic clinical or personality
scales scored in the MMPI-2, and a number of supplementary scales and
subscales that may be used with the test. The validity scales are used
to determine whether the test results are actually valid (i.e., if the
test-taker was truthful, answered cooperatively and not randomly) and
to assess the test-taker's response style (i.e., cooperative,
defensive). Each clinical scale uses a set or subset of MMPI-2
questions to evaluate a specific personality trait. The MMPI should
always be administered in a controlled environment by a psychologist
or other qualified mental health professional trained in its use."
Preparation:
"The administrator should provide the test subject with information on
the nature of the test and its intended use, complete standardized
instructions to taking the MMPI (including any time limits, and
information on the confidentiality of the results)."
Normal results:
"The MMPI should be scored and interpreted by a trained professional.
When interpreting test results for test subjects, the test
administrator will review what the test evaluates, its precision in
evaluation and any margins of error involved in scoring, and what the
individual scores mean in the context of overall norms for the test
and the background of the test subject."
================================
WHAT DO THE MMPI-2 SCORES MEAN?
================================
Robert M. Gordon's MMPI/MMPI-2?MMPI-A Information Site has several
articles that may be of interest to you:
http://www.mmpi-info.com/mmpistart.html
From "Definitions of MMPI/MMPI-2 scales: Scales of Validity and Bias."
http://www.mmpi-info.com/mmpidict1.html
I don't know if the following excerpts are useful, but since you
mentioned some scores on the L and K scales, these excerpts might be
interesting. (Read the whole article for information on other scales.)
L Lie Scale
===========
(Hathaway and McKinley, 1951) (MMPI 15 items, MMPI-2, 15 items). High:
(> Raw 5 for either the MMPI or the MMPI-2). Tendency to create a
favorable impression as a response bias, conventional, rigid,
moralistic, repression, denial, and insightless. A high L can mean
anything from a very well mannered normal wanting to give a good
impression, to a compensated paranoid.
* A high L will submerge scales of obvious psychopathology, and
inflate scales of healthy functioning such as the Ego Strength scale.
*
Low: ( Raw 3 on the MMPI or the MMPI-2). Admitting to minor faults and
shortcomings, independent, self-reliant.
==
K Scale
========
Defensiveness (McKinley, Hathaway &Meehl, 1948). (MMPI, 30 items;
MMPI-2, 30 items). K is a subtle and valuable correction for
defensiveness. However, a high K is also associated with high
education and socio-economic status. That is, people who are highly
educated and getting along well with other individuals, should score
moderately high on the K scale. The K scale was derived from
individuals who were hospitalized, clearly having serious
psychological problems and yet producing normal profiles. They were
being defensive by claiming that they had no psychological problems. K
assumes psychopathology."
High ( >Raw 22 on MMPI or MMPI-2). If there are signs of
psychopathology, high K indicates defensiveness, insightlessness,
intolerance, dogmatism, and being controlling. Very high scores are
always a sign of defensiveness. * Moderately high scores with
individuals who are college educated and appear to be fairly well
adjusted,are normal *
====
The following article is a MUST READ! It provides a fascinating and
comprehensive overview of the MMPI test, the interpretation of
validity scales, the criteria necessary to administer the tests, it's
use in Custody cases, etc.
"General Information On The MMPI", by Cheryl L. Karp, Ph.D. and
Leonard Karp, J.D. http://www.deltabravo.net/custody/mmpi-info.htm
Excerpt:
L Scale
=========
"The L scale originally was constructed to detect a deliberate and
rather unsophisticated attempt on the part of the respondent to
present him/herself in a favorable light. * People who present high L
scale scores are not willing to admit even minor shortcomings, and are
deliberately trying to present themselves in a very favorable way.*
Better educated, brighter, more sophisticated people from higher
social classes tend to score lower on the L scale.
K Scale
=======
"Compared to the L Scale, the K Scale was developed as a more subtle
and more effective index of attempts by examiners to deny
psychopathology and to present themselves in a favorable light or,
conversely, to exaggerate psychopathology and to try to appear in a
very unfavorable light. Some people refer to this scale as the
"defensiveness" indicator, as high scores on the K Scale are thought
to be associated with a defensive approach to the test, while low
scores are thought to be indicative of an unusually frank and
self-critical approach."
"Subsequent research on the K Scale has indicated that the K Scale is
not only related to defensiveness, but is also related to educational
level and socioeconomic status, with better-educated and higher
socioeconomic-level subjects scoring higher on the scale. It is not
unusual for college-educated persons who are not being defensive to
obtain T-scores on the K Scale in a range of 55 to 60, and persons
with even more formal education to obtain T-scores in a range of 60 to
70. Moderate elevations on the K Scale sometimes reflect ego strength
and psychological resources."
===
Also read "MMPI-2 VALIDITY SCALES AND SUSPECTED PARENTAL ALIENATION
SYNDROME", by Jeffrey C. Siegel, Ph.D. and Joseph S. Langford, Ph.D.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY, Volume 16, Number 4, 1998, p.
5-14
http://www.fact.on.ca/Info/pas/siegel98.htm
====
Book recommendation
===================
"Forensic Questions and Answers on the MMPI/MMPI-2," by Alex B.
Caldwell. Review By Alice F. Chang, Ph.D.
http://www.apa.org/divisions/div42/members/pubs/1998_Winter/CHANG.html
"Particular attention is given to the use of the MMPI/MMPI-2 in child
custody assessments, an arena of notably consistent use of the
instrument. He provides a review of the research on parenting, an area
of perhaps surprisingly limited research. The subsequent discussion of
the three pairwise combinations of scales 3-Hy, 4-Pd, and 6-Pa--so
remarkably prevalent in prolonged custody battles--is especially
illuminating as to the parenting issues that are identified by each of
these code types."
"The book provides two sets of references, one a set of psychological
references and resources (with annotative comments on what one can
find in each reference), and the second-- provided by Stuart
Greenberg--is a listing of crucial appellate rulings on a variety of
questions as to the admissibility and application of MMPI/MMPI-2
data."
Article recommendation
======================
"DECEPTIONS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING", by Richard W. Lewak, Ph.D. and
R. Sean Hogan, Ph.D. American Journal of Forensic Psychology.
http://www.forensicpsychonline.com/journal.html%20
"This article examines various deception paradigms within the field of
psychological testing. It concentrates mainly on the Minnesota
Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), because it is the most
widely used psychological test in the world and because it is widely
accepted within the legal system. Deception in psychological testing
can occur because of attempts to deceive by the tested as well as the
tester."
(You need access to the Journal - it is not online)
Article recommendation:
========================
Read "ASSESSING DECEPTION: IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT
PROBABLY IS!" by Steven J. Sprengelmeyer. Custody Newsletters # 16 -
17
http://www.pace411.com/newsletter16-17.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
============
CATTELL 16PF
============
THE SIXTEEN PERSONALITY TRAITS AND FIVE GLOBAL TRAITS MEASURED BY THE
CATTELL 16PF
================================================================================
"The 16 Personality Factors."
http://admin.vmi.edu/ir/16pf.htm
Includes comprehensive charts for factors measured and descriptions of
traits matching the high and low scores.
============================
TEST INTERPRETATION MANUALS
============================
Validity of the test results:
"Much validity evidence has been gathered for the 16PF Questionnaire
and is available in the 16PF Fifth Edition Administrator's Manual and
the 16PF Fifth Edition Technical Manual. You may purchase either of
the above manuals from IPAT by calling 1-800-225-4728."
"16PF Fifth Edition Technical Manual." (Edited by Steven R. Conn,
Ph.D. and Mark Rieke, Ph.D., 1994) Available from IPAT.
http://www.ipat.com/16pf5tech.html
"A collection of technical reports detailing the design and
development of the 16PF Fifth Edition Questionnaire. Individual
chapters describe various studies that demonstrate reliability and
validity. Includes the 16PF Fifth Edition Norm Supplement, Release
2002."
"16PF Fifth Edition Administrator's Manual: With Updated Norms." (Mary
Russell and Darcie Karol, 1993, 1994, 2002) Available from IPAT
http://www.ipat.com/16pf5admin.html
"Essential for administering the 16PF Fifth Edition Questionnaire.
Featuring administration, scoring, basic interpretation of the scales,
test design, and construction."
=====
"The 16PF Cattell Comprehensive Personality Interpretation Manual", by
Heather Birkett Cattell, Ph.D. Copyright 1997 by the Institute for
Personality and Ability Testing, Inc.
http://www.ipat.com/pdf/ccpimanual/ccpimanual_complete.pdf
You can read this online!
=======================================================
QUESTIONABLE SCORING ON THE IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT SCALE
=======================================================
An extremely high or extremely low score is cause to question whether
"deliberate distortion" of the test is a possibility. Scoring in the
95th percentile on the high end (or a score of 19 or above) and
scoring in the 5th percentile on the low end (or a score of 4 or
lower) is cause for suspicion.
==
From "The 16PF Questionnaire: Response Style Indices."
http://www.16pfworld.com/responsestyle.html
"The 16PF Fifth Edition Questionnaire has three Response Style
Indices: Impression Management (IM), Infrequency (INF), and
Acquiescence (ACQ). Reviewing all three scales provides data about
test-taking response styles."
** "If an examinee's score on any of the indices is extreme, the
professional should generate hypotheses about the examinee's
test-taking attitude and, if possible, review information concerning
the examinee (e.g. background data, other test results, notes from
previous interactions and discussions after the testing). In some
cases, retesting may be necessary." **
Impression Management (IM)
=========================
"Impression Management is a bipolar scale. The items contributing to
this scale are scored only on the IM scale and do not contribute to
any of the primary personality scales."
"IM is essentially a "social-desirability" scale, with high scores
reflecting socially desirable responses and low scores reflecting
willingness to admit undesirable attributes or behaviors. The item
content reflects both socially desirable and undesirable behaviors or
qualities."
"High IM scores can reflect impression management (presenting oneself
to others as tending to behave in desirable ways), or they can reflect
an examinee's self-image as a person who behaves in desirable ways. In
both cases, the possibility exists that the socially desirable
responses might be more positive than the examinee's actual behavior
(i.e., a form of response distortion that may be conscious or
unconscious) or that the examinee really might behave in socially
desirable ways (i.e., the response choices accurately reflect the
person's behavior)."
****
"If an examinee's score exceeds a certain level (usually the 95th
percentile for the high end of the IM scale and the 5th percentile for
the low end), the professional should consider possible explanations
for the extreme score. Depending on the reason for testing and the
criticality of accurate test data, the professional might consider
retesting, especially if deliberate distortion is suspected."
****
===
From "The 16 Personality Factors."
http://admin.vmi.edu/ir/16pf.htm
Response Style Indices:
"The concept of the response style in test taking refers to the ways
in which a respondent reacts to a test and the test-taking atmosphere.
Respondents may function during the test in ways which render the
scores on the test suspect. For example, one respondent may have a
tendency to provide socially desirable answers to items while another
may answer with random responses, another may wish to receive a
pathological or undesirable profile, and still another may perhaps
wish to agree with any item placed in front of him or her (a faulty
response style known as acquiescence)."
Impression Management (IM)
=====================
"A 12-item index that measures the global construct of social
desirability (the wish to hide socially undesirable traits),
specifically self-deception (self-denial of attributes one finds
psychologically threatening) and other-deception (misrepresentation of
self to others)."
Scoring Results of Impression Management:
Low Score:
"Less socially desirable responding or less exaggeration of
undesirable qualities. Though it is difficult to select cutoff scores
for every situation, *a score of 4 or below would cast some doubt on
the validity of the test for that respondent."
High Score:
"More socially desirable responding or greater exaggeration of
undesirable qualities. Though it is difficult to set cutoff scores for
every situation, *a score 19 or above would cast some doubt on the
validity of the test for that respondent."
(Read more if you are interested in the Acquiescence (ACQ) or
Infrequency (INF) scales)
===
From IPAT FAQ's
http://www.ipat.com/productfaq.html#q9
Q: "What does a high score on Impression Management (IM) mean?"
A:"According to the 16PF Fifth Edition Administrator's Manual, page
107, "A high score [on Impression Management] indicates that the
examinee has endorsed traits or behaviors deemed desirable in society,
or has denied undesirable characteristics. The tendency to portray
oneself in an unrealistically positive light sometimes is seen in job
placement settings. However, the possibility always exists that an
examinee's high score may reflect sincere responses. For example,
socially desirable answers may be accurate for certain persons, such
as members of the clergy. A high IM score also may reflect an
idealized self-image rather than deliberate 'faking.' In this case,
the profile appears more socially desirable than the person's actual
behavior, but the "distortion" probably was introduced unconsciously,
given the examinee's idealized self-image."
Q: "What does a low score on Impression Management (IM) mean?
A:"According to the 16PF Fifth Edition Administrator's Manual, page
107, "A low IM score suggests that the examinee has presented himself
or herself in an unfavorable light by endorsing items that reflect or
even exaggerate undesirable qualities. The examinee may be extremely
self-critical or may be reinforcing a need for counseling or for
attention."
========================
RESEARCH ON "FAKABILITY"
========================
Can an individual fake their responses on a personality test when
specifically instructed to do so? According to the following article,
the answer is "Yes."
Read "Meta-Analysis of Fakability Estimates: Implications For
Personality Measurement", by Chockalingam Viswesvaran and Denis S.
Ones. Educational and Psychological Measurement, Vol. 59 No.2, April
1999 197-210.
http://147.46.94.112/e_journals/pdf_full/journal_e/e21_199959201.pdf
(No specific tests are mentioned in the article)
====
It is evident from the research that there is room for deception in
both tests! Hopefully, the information I have provided will help you
decide on directions to pursue in your current legal case. If I can be
of ANY further help in narrowing down some specifics, please let me
know in a clarification. I will try to help if I can.
umiat-ga
mmpi-2 test
MMPI-2 validity scales
MMPI-2 test AND custody battles
MMPI-2 validity scales AND Cattell 16PF Impression management scale
Cattell 16PF AND Impression Management score
accuracy of Cattell 16PF
Cattell Impression Management Scale AND Reliability
Cattell 16PF AND "faking good" |
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