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Racial bias and the MCMI

J P Choca1, L A Shanley, C A Peterson

  • 1Psychology Service, VA Lakeside Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60611.

Journal of Personality Assessment
|January 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

This study found racial bias in the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) for Black and White male psychiatric patients. Significant score differences suggest potential culture-fairness issues in the test items and scales.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Psychometrics
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) is a widely used tool for assessing psychopathology.
  • Ensuring the cultural fairness of psychological assessments across different racial groups is crucial for accurate diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate potential racial bias in the MCMI by comparing scores between Black and White male psychiatric inpatients.
  • To determine if MCMI performance differs significantly across racial groups at item, scale, and structural levels.

Main Methods:

  • The study analyzed MCMI scores from Black and White male psychiatric inpatients, matched by DSM-III diagnoses.
  • Statistical analyses included the Mantel-Haenszel Procedure (item level), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) (scale level), and Principal Components Factor Analysis (structural level).

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in MCMI performance were found between racial groups for most diagnoses, except personality disorders.
  • 45 out of 175 items showed significant racial differences, suggesting potential culture-fairness issues.
  • Nine of the 20 scales yielded significantly different scores, with Black patients generally scoring higher than White patients.

Conclusions:

  • The MCMI demonstrates racial bias, particularly at the item and scale levels, indicating potential cultural unfairness.
  • While MCMI scores differ between racial groups, the underlying factor structures of the inventory appear consistent across Black and White patients.

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