The effect of oral administration by a live examiner on the MMPI: a split-half design

Used a split-half methodology to evaluate the effects of oral administration by a live examiner on the MMPI. Twenty adult outpatients were administered half of the questionnaire items orally and half in the normal manner. A comparable group of 20 people responded to both halves in writing. The results indicated that scales 6 and 9 resulted in statistical differences; Ss scored in a more pathological direction on the oral half. Clinical significance was minimal, however, which suggests that clinicians who administer the MMPI orally should expect results comparable to those obtained from standard administration.