The utility of MMPI subtle, obvious scales for detecting fake good and fake bad response sets

Peterson, Gary W.; Clark, D. Anthony Tyeeme; Bennett, Bert

doi:10.1002/1097-4679(198907)45:4<575::aid-jclp2270450412>3.0.co;2-f

Cited by 26 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The F-r data were complex and only partially satisfied H4. We believe that this occurred because we tested a normal sample, and thus the “floor effect” described by Peterson et al (1989) was high (honest respondents endorsed so few psychopathology-related items that, when asked to fake good, few differences could be noted). The results also stressed that speed induced FGs to significantly improve their self-representation in the L-r and K-r scales.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Could Time Detect a Faking-Good Attitude? A Study With the MMPI-2-RF

et al. 2018

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Background and Purpose: Research on the relationship between response latency (RL) and faking in self-administered testing scenarios have generated contradictory findings. We explored this relationship further, aiming to add further insight into the reliability of self-report measures. We compared RLs and T-scores on the MMPI-2-RF (validity and restructured clinical [RC] scales) in four experimental groups. Our hypotheses were that: the Fake-Good Speeded group would obtain a different completion time; show higher RLs than the Honesty Speeded Group in the validity scales; show higher T-Scores in the L-r and K-r scales and lower T-scores in the F-r and RC scales; and show higher levels of tension and fatigue. Finally, the impact of the speeded condition in malingering was assessed.Materials and Methods: The sample was comprised of 135 subjects (M = 26.64; SD = 1.88 years old), all of whom were graduates (having completed at least 17 years of instruction), male, and Caucasian. Subjects were randomly assigned to four groups: Honesty Speeded, Fake-Good Speeded, Honesty Un-Speeded, and Fake-Good Un-Speeded. A software version of the MMPI-2-RF and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were administered. To test the hypotheses, MANOVAs and binomial logistic regressions were run.Results: Significant differences were found between the four groups, and particularly between the Honest and Fake-Good groups in terms of test completion time and the L-r and K-r scales. The speeded condition increased T-scores in the L-r and K-r scales but decreased T-scores in some of the RC scales. The Fake groups also scored higher on the VAS Tension subscale. Completion times for the first and second parts of the MMPI-2-RF and T-scores for the K-r scale seemed to predict malingering.Conclusion: The speeded condition seemed to bring out the malingerers. Limitations include the sample size and gender bias.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Could Time Detect a Faking-Good Attitude? A Study With the MMPI-2-RF

et al. 2018

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“…In turn, test-takers possessing relevant job knowledge and/or experience have been found to be better able to fake than inexperienced test-takers (Frei, Griffith, Snell, McDaniel, & Douglas, 1997;Vasilopoulos et al, 2000). Our results for familiarity are also consistent with research that shows that people can better fake more obvious (transparent) items than more subtle ones in personality inventories (e.g., Peterson, Clark, & Bennett, 1989;Posey & Hess, 1984). Apparently, possessing relevant schemata of the job domain and its requirements provides candidates with cues that make faking somewhat easier Christiansen et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Elaboration on Responding to Situational Judgment Test Items

Lievens

Peeters

2008

Int J Selection Assessment

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Although faking has been identified as a potential problem in situational judgment tests (SJTs), no studies have investigated proactive approaches for controlling faking in SJTs. Therefore, this study examined the impact of elaboration on responding to SJT items. Elaboration was operationalized as reason-giving. Two hundred and forty-seven master students were assigned to either an honest or a fake condition, and to a non-elaboration or an elaboration condition. Results showed that elaboration decreased the effect of faking for items with high familiarity. Elaboration on familiar items also decreased the percentage of fakers in the top of the distribution. Next, participants in the elaboration condition rated the SJT significantly higher in terms of allowing them to present themselves more realistically and to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Finally, there were no significant differences in participants' satisfaction with the SJT across the elaboration and non-elaboration condition.

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“…The clinical use of the Wiener and Harmon (Wiener, 1948) Subtle and Obvious scales has had a long and controversial history. Originally developed to detect deviant test-taking attitudes in the MMPI, the clinical utility of the Subtle and Obvious scales is questionable, as research that used the original MMPI clearly has shown (Dannenbaum & Lanyon, 1993;Herkov, Archer, & Gordon, 1991;Peterson, Clark, & Bennett, 1989;Rogers, 1983;Schretlen, 1988Schretlen, , 1990Wrobel & Lachar, 1982) and MMPI-2 (Berry, Baer, & Harris, 1991;Boone, 1994a;Butcher, 1989;Graham, Watts, & Timbrook, 1991;Herkov, Gordon, Gynther, & Greer, 1994;Peterson et al, 1989;Timbrook, Graham, & Watts, 1993;Weed, Ben-Porath, & Butcher, 1990). To summarize, the Subtle and Obvious scales "have led to ambiguous identification of faking" (Dubinsky, Gamble, & Rogers, 1985, p. 67) and may "attenuate the validity of the Full Scale by introducing variance that is not related to variance in the criterion measure" (Weed et al, 1990, p. 12).…”

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confidence: 99%

Differential validity of the MMPI-2 subtle and obvious scales with psychiatric inpatients: Scale 2

Boone

1995

J. Clin. Psychol.

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The construct and concurrent validity of the MMPI-2 Scale 2 Subtle and Obvious scales were examined for a group of 67 psychiatric inpatients. Validity coefficients for the Obvious scale were uniformly greater than those for the Full and Subtle scales. Subtle scale validity coefficients were negative and attenuated the validity of the Full clinical scale. Use of Obvious items resulted in more accurate prediction of assessed suicide risk, while inclusion of the Subtle items did not add any useful information in the prediction of assessed suicide risk or psychiatric diagnosis. It is recommended that future research that uses the MMPI-2 basic clinical scales examine the differential validity of the Subtle and Obvious scales.The clinical use of the Wiener and Harmon (Wiener, 1948) Subtle and Obvious scales has had a long and controversial history. Originally developed to detect deviant test-taking attitudes in the MMPI, the clinical utility of the Subtle and Obvious scales is questionable, as research that used the original MMPI clearly has shown (Dannenbaum

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The utility of MMPI subtle, obvious scales for detecting fake good and fake bad response sets

Cited by 26 publications

References 13 publications

Could Time Detect a Faking-Good Attitude? A Study With the MMPI-2-RF

Could Time Detect a Faking-Good Attitude? A Study With the MMPI-2-RF

Impact of Elaboration on Responding to Situational Judgment Test Items

Differential validity of the MMPI-2 subtle and obvious scales with psychiatric inpatients: Scale 2

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