Improving the Sensitivity of the VRIN-r Scale on the MMPI-A-RF

<p>When respondents to self-report measures fail to answer in accordance with item content it distorts the accuracy of obtained test scores, degrading the ability of clinicians to use results to make accurate diagnoses and recommendations. The Variable Response Inconsistency (VRIN) scale was created for the MMPI-2 and was later revised as the VRIN-r scale for the MMPI-2-RF and MMPI-A-RF in order to detect and invalidate protocols over saturated with random responding. Analyses conducted by Pitta (2016) revealed that the VRIN-r scale for the MMPI-A-RF was not ideally sensitive to the detection of random responding in protocols. This study explored adding items drawn from another validity scale used to detect over reporting on the MMPI-A-RF (the F-r scale) to the VRIN-r scale to ascertain if the resultant hybrid scale was more sensitive to random responding. Using the MMPI-A-RF normative sample and an over reporting sample from the MMPI-A, analyses were conducted to identify the ideal number of F-r items to add to the VRIN-r scale that maximized sensitivity to random responding while maintaining specificity from detecting over reporting. F-r items were also added to another validity scale, the Combined Response Inconsistency (CRIN) scale, to ascertain if this hybrid scale was reliably sensitive to random responding. Analyses revealed that adding six F-r items to both the VRIN-r and CRIN scale greatly improved their sensitivity to random responding while maintaining adequate specificity from the detection of over reporting. Implications for these findings, limitations to the research design, and areas of future research are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2019

Author dc:creator

• LaTulip, Stefan E.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Richard W. Handel
• Scott M. Debb
• Jennifer M. Flaherty
• Serina A. Neumann

• MMPI-A-RF
• Psychometrics
• Symptom validity
• VRIN-r
• Clinical Psychology
• Personality and Social Contexts

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Identifier

9798641470375

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:psychology_etds-1345