Validity of the MMPI-2 basic and Harris-Lingoes subscales in a forensic sample.

The present study explored the MMPI-2 correlates of criminal history in a sample of prison inmates. Although Ma was the only basic scale to demonstrate a significant positive association to crime history, three Harris-Lingoes subscales also bore significant associations to this criterion. The Ma1 (amorality), Pd2 (authority problems), and Pd5 (self-alienation) subscales demonstrated positive associations with crime history. Hierarchical multiple-regression analyses were used to examine the incremental validity of the D, Pd, and Ma Harris-Lingoes subscales when added to their parent scales in the prediction of crime history. Only the Pd Harris-Lingoes subscales demonstrated incremental validity in the prediction of this criterion. The value of including the Ma and Pd Harris-Lingoes subscales in criminal risk assessment is discussed.

Comparative validity of the MMPI-2 Wiener-Harmon subtle-obvious scales in male prison inmates.

The Wiener-Harmon subtle-obvious MMPI subscales (Wiener, 1948; Wiener & Harmon, 1946) have been the subject of considerable debate. In this study, we examined the intercorrelations among full clinical scale T scores and their subtle and obvious subscales in an offender population. Low subtle to full-scale correlations were observed, suggesting that these items contribute little to full-scale scores. Further, we explored the criterion validity of the MMPI-2 subtle-obvious scales in this forensic sample. The results demonstrated that the obvious scales of the MMPI-2 had greater criterion validity than the subtle scales when compared to crime history data. Scores on the subtle subscales were unrelated to crime history. The Ma-O subscale demonstrated the strongest association to crime history data. The findings from this study add to a mounting body of evidence indicating that when respondents are in a position to understand item content, and can therefore provide a direct self-appraisal, responses are most predictive of clinical criteria.

The convergent and discriminant validity of the Need for Cognition Scale.

This article reports two studies that examined the convergent and discriminant validity of the Need for Cognition Scale (Cacioppo & Petty, 1982). Using samples of college students and prison inmates, need for cognition scores were found to be positively associated with measures of self-esteem, masculine sex role attitudes, absorption, and private self-consciousness. Modest negative associations between need for cognition and measures of public self-consciousness and social anxiety were also uncovered. Need for cognition scores were generally unrelated to measures of feminine and androgynous sex role attitudes, shyness, sociability, and loneliness. These findings add further evidence supporting the construct validity of the Need for Cognition Scale and expand our understanding of the construct of need for cognition.

Order effects in the administration of personality measures: the case of the Self-Consciousness Scale.

The pitfalls of serial administration of personality measures as a research selection device were explored. Three samples of subjects were administered the Self-Consciousness Scale (Fenigstein, Scheier, & Buss, 1975) either first or last in a series of questionnaires. As predicted, those who responded to the measure last obtained higher private self-consciousness scores. However, the strength of the effect was moderated by the number of other measures included in the testing. Unexpectedly, public self-consciousness scores also were influenced by order of administration of the measure. Subjects who were administered the scale last evidenced lower public self-consciousness scores although this effect reached significance in only one of three samples of subjects. The broader implications of these findings for researchers who employ mass test administration procedures to select subjects for personality research are considered.