The HCR-20^V3 in Germany

Abstract

This article describes the contributions of the German workgroup to the second revision of the HCR-20 (HCR-20^V3). In 2009, a beta-testing of draft 1 of the HCR-20^V3 was conducted. The results were considered in the revision process of draft 1. In 2013, an interrater reliability study of the German translation of draft 2 of the HCR-20^V3 was conducted. After a two-day workshop five raters (psychologists) without experience in structured professional judgment each rated the same 30 cases. The selected cases covered a range of diagnoses and risk levels. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) and the percentage of agreement were calculated for each item, each sub item, and the Summary Risk Ratings (SRRs). The interrater reliability of the SRRs (ICC = .86) was excellent. For the item-level ratings of the risk factors, the mean ICC for the H scale items and sub-items was .65, which would be “good.” The average item-level ICC of the C scale items (.66) and R scale items (.73) would be categorized similarly. There were some ratings with lower reliability. Possible reasons (lack of variance, or misunderstanding from the training procedure) are discussed.

Keywords:

• HCR-20^V3
• user feedback study
• beta testing
• interrater reliability
• structured professional judgment
• violence risk assessment