A comparison of validity rates between paper-and-pencil and computerized testing with the MMPI-2

Although the use of computerized testing in psychopathology assessment has increased in recent years, limited research has examined the impact of this format in terms of potential differences in test validity rates. The current study explores potential differences in the rates of valid and invalid Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) protocols between computerized and paper-and-pencil administrations. Participants were 387 undergraduate students (157 men and 230 women) from a Midwestern university who completed either a computerized version or a paper-and-pencil version of the MMPI-2. Chi-square analyses revealed some important differences between administration modalities by gender. Overall, results indicated that although no differences existed in the computerized version, men were more likely to invalidate the paper-and-pencil version. Furthermore, although less likely overall to produce invalid MMPI-2 results, women were more likely to invalidate the paper-and-pencil version via random responding compared with the computerized version. Limitations and future directions are discussed.