Detecting Distortion in Forensic Evaluations With the MMPI-2 (From Forensic Applications of the MMPI-2, P 82-102, 1995, Yossef S Ben-Porath, et al, eds. -- See NCJ-160683)

• NCJ Number: 160687
• Author(s): D T R Berry
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 21 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Applied Psychology, Volume 2: Individual, Social, and Community Issues

Annotation

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2) is the most commonly used psychopathology instrument in the legal setting, and validity scales of the MMPI-2 are among the best documented tools currently available for identifying testing distortions.

Abstract

Methodological issues associated with detecting distortions in forensic evaluations using the MMPI-2 concern whether response distortion should be a major concern, definition of the response distortion in question, symptom overreporting, the research base supporting test validity, and strategies employed by individuals who conduct psychological testing. The literature suggests that MMPI-2 validity scales are probably the best documented tools available for detecting response bias within the context of a psychopathology inventory. MMPI-2 validity indexes appear to be sensitive to random responding and to symptom overreporting. The present state of the art in forensic psychology is such that there are no perfect procedures for detecting nonveridical responding in evaluations. Therefore, the most defensible approach to addressing this issue is to use all available sources of information, including historical data, medical/psychological records, and behavioral observations. MMPI-2 validity scales provide useful information about the presence of response distortions in forensic evaluations but, as with any indicator, they should not be used in isolation. 55 references and 3 tables