PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT (LABORATORY)

PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST WRITE UP

BRIEF INTRODUCTION
In 1943, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) began a
new era for structured personality tests. MMPI stands for Minnesota multiphasic
personality inventory and is one of the most frequently used psychological
assessment tools used by therapists to assess personality traits and to also diagnose
mental health conditions. The original MMPI test was developed by clinical
psychologist Stark R. Hathaway and psychiatrist/neurologist JC McKinley who
were faculty members at the University of Minnesota and hence the name, but over
the years a number of shortcomings were observed with the test, these were
reduced over time and the number of variants were released to make the test more
accurate and actually reduce a number of different types of biases observed in the
original test after revisions the test was named MMPI-2 by James Butcher and then
later revised again to become MMPI 3 authored by Ben-Porath and Tellegen which
is actually the latest version, also, the MMPI 2 RF which stands for MMPI
restructured form which is a shortened version of the MMPI 2. As well as, the
MMPI A and again the MMPI A RF which are actually standard and restructured
versions designed for adolescents between the ages of 14 to 18 years so there is a
different set of MMPI questionnaires for adolescence aged between 14 and 18. But
whatever be the version, the basic concept of scales remains the same so the
structure on which the MMPI tests are based on, remains the same.
PURPOSE
 The purpose of the MMPI and MMPI-2 is to assist in distinguishing normal
from abnormal groups. Specifically, the test was designed to aid in the diagnosis or
assessment of the major psychiatric or psychological disorders.
TEST TAKERS
The original MMPI can be taken by 14 years and older, while MMPI-2 can be
taken by 18 years and older. The MMPI A are especially made for adolescents. In
terms of understanding the items, this test only requires at least a sixth-grade
reading level. There are no requirements when it comes to race even though the
original MMPI has an all white criterion group but it is already solved in the
MMPI-2.

TECHNICALS
Median split-half reliability coefficients for both the original MMPI and the
MMPI-2 run in the .70’s, with some coefficients as high as .96 but others much
lower. Median test–retest coefficients range from the low .50’s to the low .90’s.
(median .80’s).
There are 10 different clinical scales in the MMPI a person rating high on
each scale indicates a different type of mental condition, however, overlaps
between the scales so they are not actually absolute basically a number of
questions relate to each scale and these provide an assessment of how one ranks on
each individual scale. Scale 1 is called hypochondriasis this scale determines if
one worries way too much about one's health conditions so it has a number of
questions which actually tries to determine if a person worries way too much about
one's own health conditions a high score on this scale could indicate that you worry
so much about your own health that it actually interferes with your life and your
relationships. Scale 2 is depression, this scale measures a person's complete
dissatisfaction with their own life. Depression here is accompanied by poor morale
and a very low hope for the future, in extreme cases there could also be suicidal
thoughts in individuals who rate high on this scale. Scale 3 is Hysteria, this scale
is a measure of physical symptoms and emotional responses of individuals in
stressful situations, an interesting thing to note here in this scale is that hysteria
was actually incorrectly considered to be an exclusively female disorder in the past
but then came Freud who actually disproved this being a female specific disorder
and opened it up to be something that both males and females can experience. The
fourth type of scale is the psychopathic deviate scale, as opposed to what the
name suggests this scale is actually a measure of a personality disorder rather than
a psychotic tendency, a high score on this scale could be considered to be a
measure of anti-social behavior and lack of morals. Scale 5 measures masculinity
or femininity, this scale was originally designed with homosexuality being
considered as a mental disorder unfortunately it was therefore, originally intended
to seek out homosexual tendencies to sniff it out thankfully it is now used as a
measure of the extent to which a person accepts gender stereotypes how he or she
accepts the system that we live in and accepts the role of different genders. Scale 6
measures paranoia this is an important skill used to evaluate certain psychotic
symptoms, individuals symptoms diagnosed here include extreme suspicion of
other people, extreme sensitivity, very rigid black and white thinking in people
amongst other things, high scores on this scale could actually indicate a certain
level of psychosis the next skill is psychastinia, now it is no longer used as a
diagnosis, this scale was designed to measure levels of anxiety, depression and
certain clinical OCD symptoms which is obsessive compulsive disorders but
certain professionals still use this scale to evaluate certain types of unhealthy
compulsions. Scale 8 is a measure of schizophrenia, this scale was originally
designed to diagnose whether someone have or if they are likely to develop
schizophrenia it essentially evaluates symptoms like hallucinations delusions,
disorganized thinking, social alienation and lack of self-worth the next skill
measures hypomania, it is generally found in people with bipolar disorders and
actually causes unusually high levels of physical and mental energies in such
people this scale was actually designed to measure symptoms of hypomania like
rapid thoughts and speech and hallucinations and brief periods of extreme
depression. The last scale which is scale 10 measures social introversion, this
scale was developed later than the other nine scales and is a measure of whether a
person seeks out or withdraws from social interactions, this is, therefore a measure
of introversion versus extroversion.
The MMPI also has validity scales which consists of L Scale or Lie Scale; the
attempt of a test taker to fake good, K Scale; the defensiveness of test taker, and F
scale; compared to L scale this scale is an attempt to fake bad. MMPI-2 has and
identical validity scale but has an additional other scales like; Fb, TRIN, and
VRIN. The Back-Page Infrequency scale is designed to detect patterns of random
inconsistency of responses. True Response Inconsistency (TRIN) is designed to
identify acquiescent and nonacquiescent response patterns. Lastly, Variable
Response Inconsistency (VRIN) is designed to identify indiscriminate response
patterns. James Butcher, after the production of MMPI-2, still developed another
scale which is the S scale that detects self-preservation in a superlative manner.
In the catalog of Pearson the test kit for MMPI-3 that was published on 2020
and has a completion time of 25-50 minutes and administered through Q-global;
paper and pencil hand-scoring to participants ranging from 18 years and older and
can only be purchased by professionals in the qualification level C. The MMPI-3
includes 72 new and 24 updated items used to develop new scales (Eating
Concerns, Compulsivity, Impulsivity, and Self-Importance). It also has Manual for
Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation as well as, Technical Manual. The test
kit also provides scores for all 52 scales of the test and includes a summary page to
facilitate standard MMPI-3 interpretation along with customisable item-level
information.
TEST ADMINISTRATION
Originally the MMPI is administered bay paper and pencil but as of today it
can also be administered online, offline on disk, or by index cards. There is,
however a special consideration in this test for semiliterate test-takers, they can
take this test through audio-augmented computerized version.
SCORING AND INTERPRETATION
The scoring can be by hand, but it is extremely labor intensive, time
consuming and rarely done. Therefore, computer scoring is the best option for this
test. This can be done through a software on personal computer, computer
transmission to a scoring service, online through the Q-global interface or by
physically mailing it to a computer scoring service. With the help of technology we
can get a simple numerical or graphical results of the scores or even highly detailed
narrative report complete with analysis of scores. Scores on each scale are reported
in a form T scores. There are various ways in order to interpret this scores.
Configural interpretation as proposed by Hathaway and McKinley (1943) it is the
interpretation not on scores of single scales but on pattern, profile or configuration
of the scores. This interpretation is highly complicated that is why another had
great appeal to MMPI users which is the 2-point code proposed by Paul Meehl on
1951. 2-point code is the two highest score on the clinical scales which exceeds an
elevation of T=70. Lastly, Welsh codes is an another popular approach to scoring
and interpretation.
STRENGTHS
1. The wide variety of researches and critics that has been able to help the test
become more and more valid and reliable.
2. The openness to the innovations and new norms, the creation of different
variation.
3. The numerous amount of scales that validates the test.
LIMITATIONS
1. The major limitation of MMPI is the excessive amount of test questions.
2. Limited representation of samples.
3. Applies only to limited culture yet identified as widely used psychological
assessment.
SAMPLE ITEMS
The Original MMPI 2 Test Questions
Provided under the Fair Use Act for Educational purposes
1. I like mechanics magazines.
2. I have a good appetite.
3. I wake up fresh and rested most mornings.
4. I think I would enjoy the work of a librarian.
5. I am easily awakened by noise.
6. My father is a good man (or if your father is dead) my father was a good man.
7. I like to read newspaper articles on crime.
8. My hands and feet are usually warm enough.
9. My daily life is full of things that keep me interested.
10. I am about as able to work as I ever was.
11. There seems to be a lump in my throat much of the time.
12. My sex life is satisfactory.
13. People should try to understand their dreams and be guided by or take warning
from them.
14. I enjoy detective or mystery stories.
15. I work under a great deal of tension.

REFERENCES
Cohen, R. J., Schneider, W. J., & Tobin, R. (2021). Psychological testing and
assessment: An introduction to tests and measurement (10th ed.). McGraw-
Hill Education.
Kaplan, R. M., & Saccuzzo, D. P. (2017). Psychological Testing: Principles,
Applications, and Issues (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
MMPI Test Online (2022). The MMPI Test Questions and Answers. Retrieved
from https://psychtest.net/mmpi-test-questions/