Evaluating the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) over-reporting scales in a military neuropsychology clinic

ABSTRACT

Introduction: This study examines the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) validity scales to detect invalid responding within a sample of active duty United States Army soldiers referred for neuropsychological evaluations.

Method: This study examines the relationship between performance validity testing and performance on the MMPI-2-RF over-reporting scales. Specifically, mean differences between those who passed (n = 152; 75.6%) or failed (n = 49; 24.4%) performance validity testing were compared. Receiver operator characteristic analyzes were also conducted to expand available information on the MMPI-2-RF over-reporting sensitivity and specificity in an Army sample.

Results: This study has two distinct findings. First, effect size differences between those passing and failing performance validity testing are classified as small to medium in magnitude (ranging from d = . 30/g = .32 on F-r to d = .66/g = .73 on RBS). Second, over-reporting scales have higher specificity and poorer sensitivity. Likewise, performance of the over-reporting scales suggests that those who exceeding recommended cut scores are likely to have failed extra-test performance validity measures.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that many who fail external performance measures may be undetected on the MMPI-2-RF over-reporting scales and that those exceeding recommended cut scores are likely to have failed extra-test performance validity testing. Implications for research on, and practice with, the MMPI-2-RF in military populations are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• MMPI-2-RF
• feigning
• military
• validity testing
• over-reporting

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Paul Ingram receives research funding from Pearson Clinical Assessments, the distributor of the MMPI-2-Restructured Form, and the University of Minnesota Press, publisher of the MMPI-2-Restructured Form.