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Assessing underreporting response bias on the MMPI-2
R Michael Bagby1, Margarita B Marshall
1Psychological Assessment Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto.
Assessment
|June 3, 2004
Summary
This study confirms the MMPI-2 validity scales detect two underreporting styles: self-deceptive (SD) and impression management (IM). These styles function differently in analog (ARD) versus differential prevalence group (DPG) designs.
Area of Science:
- Psychological assessment
- Psychometrics
- Personality psychology
Background:
- Underreporting response styles, including self-deceptive (SD) and impression management (IM), can impact personality assessment validity.
- The MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2) includes validity scales designed to detect these response styles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the replicability of the two-factor model of underreporting response styles.
- To examine the performance of MMPI-2 validity scales in analog (ARD) and differential prevalence group (DPG) designs.
Main Methods:
- Principal components analysis was used to identify the factor structure of underreporting styles.
- MMPI-2 data were collected from participants in ARD (faking good) and DPG (real-life assessment) conditions.
Main Results:
- A two-factor structure emerged, corresponding to SD and IM response styles.
- The IM factor scale and related validity scales were higher in participants instructed to fake good (ARD) and in DPG samples compared to standard administration.
- DPG samples showed significantly higher SD factor scale scores than ARD participants instructed to fake good.
Conclusions:
- The MMPI-2 validity scales effectively measure both SD and IM underreporting styles.
- The operationalization and detection of these underreporting styles may differ between ARD and DPG research designs.