The role of intelligence on performance on the Inventory of Legal Knowledge (ILK)

Abstract

Previous research has shown that individuals with intellectual disabilities perform in the feigning range on malingering measures even when other data suggest that they are performing optimally. However, few studies to date have gone beyond intellectual disabilities and studied the full range of intelligence. Additionally, there are no data available examining the relationship between intelligence and performance on the Inventory of Legal Knowledge (ILK). The relationship between intelligence and performance on malingering tests is important because individuals with intellectual deficits may be incorrectly identified as malingering on these tests. The current study used a sample of state psychiatric hospital residents, adjudicated incompetent to proceed, and a sample of undergraduate university students to examine the relationship between intelligence and performance on the ILK. Results indicated three items on the ILK are correlated with intelligence and total scores were moderately correlated. Participants were further broken into groups using categorical ranges of Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Results were mixed regarding the relationship between ranges of IQ and performance on the ILK. Future directions and implications of this study are discussed.

Keywords:

• malingering
• intelligence
• Inventory of Legal Knowledge (ILK)
• court competency

Notes

1. Reproduced by special permission of the Publisher, Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc., 16204 North Florida Avenue, Lutz, FL 33549, from the Inventory of Legal Knowledge™ (ILK™) by Jeffrey E. Musick, PhD, ABPP and Randy K. Otto, PhD, ABPP, Copyright 2010 by PAR, Inc. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission from PAR, Inc.