Examination of the reliability and validity of the personality assessment inventory

Abstract

The reliability, discriminant validity, and construct validity of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) -a multidimensional self-report measure of abnormal personality traits-were examined within the Australian context. Subjects included 151 normal individuals, 30 alcoholics, and 30 schizophrenic patients. A subsample of 70 non-psychiatric adults responded to the PAI items twice over a test-retest interval of 28 days. The resulting median retest coefficient was 0. 7, indicating less than optimal stability. The median alpha (KR 21 coefficient was 0.8, suggesting rather narrow measurement scales. A significant multivariate main effect was obtained across groups after the effects of age and gender were removed. Multiple comparisons for each of the PAI scales revealed significant differences between the respective groups, as discussed. A higher-order scale factoring did not strongly support the purported PAI structure. In reanalyses of the correlation matrices included in the Professional Manual, the purported PAI factor structure was unable to be replicated for the standardization clinical sample (N = 1246), and a confirmatory factor analysis using the normative (validation) correlational data (N = 1000) revealed poor fit indices, raising further concerns about construct validity.

Recovery and Replication of Internalizing and Externalizing Dimensions Within the Personality Assessment Inventory

“…Morey's (1991) initial approach to evaluating its structure was to identify dimensions that accounted for the relations among all of the instrument's scales. Although some dimensions within the PAI exhibited good levels of replication in subsequent research (Morey, 2007), this was not the case for all of the dimensions, and some studies have reported inconsistent findings (e.g., Boyle & Lennon, 1994). Many, but not all, previous studies have been limited by relatively small and homogenous samples and the use of exploratory analytical approaches.…”

“…Replication of the other dimensions has not been as consistent as that for affective disruption and exploitive hostility. Additionally, research using both exploratory and confirmatory factor analytical techniques did not find support for a four-dimension structure of the PAI within an Australian sample of community-dwelling adults and patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence or schizophrenia (Boyle & Lennon, 1994; but see Morey, 1995).…”

The Role of Defense Mechanisms in Borderline and Antisocial Personalities

“…The Borderline Features (BOR) and Antisocial Features (ANT) Clinical scales were used in this study. The PAI has demonstrated good reliability and validity in census, college, and clinical samples (e.g., Boyle & Lennon, 1994;Kurtz et al, 1993;Morey, 1991;Walters, Duncan & Geyer, 2003 (3) Note. BPD = borderline personality disorder group; APD = antisocial personality disorder group.…”

Beneficial Effect of Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy in Patients with Breast Cancer—A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…21 It has high internal consistency and test-related reliability. 22 For this study, questions in the PAI related to depression and anxiety were extracted.…”