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Are the MMPI subtle subscales subtle measures of their scales?

J L Mihura1, R S Schlottmann, A B Scott

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, OH 43606, USA. jmihura@pop3.utoledo.edu

Journal of Clinical Psychology
|February 8, 2000
PubMed

Insights

The Wiener-Harmon subtle subscales on the MMPI do not effectively function as unobtrusive measures. Their scores under simulated conditions showed no correlation with standard scores, challenging their validity.

Area of Science:

  • Psychological assessment
  • Personality testing
  • Psychometrics

Background:

  • The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a widely used psychological assessment tool.
  • Wiener-Harmon subtle subscales were developed to provide unobtrusive measures of specific MMPI scales.
  • Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding the efficacy of these subtle subscales.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the validity of the Wiener-Harmon subtle subscales (D, Hy, Pd, Pa, Ma) as subtle measures within the MMPI.
  • To investigate the paradoxical effect in MMPI faking literature concerning subtle subscales.
  • To determine if subtle subscale scores under faking conditions correlate with standard full-scale scores.

Main Methods:

  • Forty outpatients completed the MMPI under standard instructions.
  • Participants then completed the MMPI again under either fake-good or fake-bad instructional sets.
  • Analysis focused on comparing T-scores of subtle subscales and full scales under different conditions.

Main Results:

  • Not all subtle subscales exhibited the paradoxical effect where T-scores moved in the opposite direction of faking instructions.
  • Subtle subscale T-scores obtained under faking conditions did not significantly correlate with their respective full-scale T-scores under standard conditions.
  • The findings did not support the utility of the Wiener-Harmon subtle subscales as subtle indicators.

Conclusions:

  • The Wiener-Harmon subtle subscales lack empirical support as subtle or unobtrusive measures of their respective MMPI scales.
  • The study questions the validity and practical application of these subscales in psychological assessment.
  • Further research may be needed to explore alternative subtle measurement strategies in personality inventories.

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