Reviewed studies in which clinicians made judgments and then rated the degree of confidence that they had in each of their judgments. Results reveal little support for the hypothesis that clinicians are overconfident. Confidence ratings were related positively to the validity of judgments in a number of studies. Experienced clinicians made more…

Administered Depressive Adjective Check List (DACL) Set 2 of Forms E, F, G trait version and Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL-R) to 183 French- and English-speaking older adults from rural areas in Canada. Results suggest that DACL Form G would be most valid to use with either language and/or site in protocol for future studies.…

Examines the validity of a Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory code type interpretive program. Results showed the system was highly rated by three independent experienced clinicians. The program can be used in validating other automated test interpretation systems. Feedback by expert judges can be used to improve such systems. (Author/JAC)

Determined additional data on the reliability and validity of brief versions of the Depression Adjective Checklist by reanalyzing the data for Forms E, F, and G. Suggests the brevity and relatively high intercorrelation among the lists are assets when repeated measures are needed or many variables are measured. (Author/JAC)

Investigated the validity of subtest short forms for the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence in an outpatient population of 116 children. Data showed that the short forms underestimated actual level of intelligence and supported use of a short form only as a brief screening device. (LLL)

This study compared more than 3400 MMPIs obtained from pschiatric in-patients in public mental health facilities with mental status and preadmission descriptor ratings to derive empirical correlates of profiles clustered primarily by two-point high codes. (Author)

Tested college students (N=153) with one of four personality tests differing in face validity. Subjects received either a bogus interpretation (Barnum) or negative interpretation (Prosecuting Attorney). Barnum feedback was judged more accurate and likeable. Females had higher accuracy scores. Results confirmed findings relative to face validity…

Attempted to cross-validate the Verbal Concept Attainment Test as a measure of potential value in neuropsychological assessment and to validate a booklet form of this test. Data provided evidence of the stability of this test across samples and the booklet form appeared to be an equally valid measure. (WAS)

Experimental results indicate test items taken individually discriminate strongly between abused and well-adjusted children, but not between abused and nonabused disturbed children. Items used collectively discriminate between abused children and the other two groups. Based on these results, this test is proposed to identify abused children.…

Evaluated techniques for identifying faking on the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC). Undergraduate students (N=70) completed PICs on their child either faking bad, faking good, or legitimate. Results were cross-validated against a clinical sample. Results indicated a clinician cannot be certain a PIC profile is valid. (JAC)

Evaluated construct validity of the Missouri Children's Behavior Checklist scales and behavior profiles by determining the relationship between the MCBC and the clinical findings of an interdisciplinary evaluation of children (N=217) referred for developmental disabilities. Analyses showed substantial association between the MCBC and clinical…

Analyzed the Matching Familiar Figures Test, which has been employed by researchers to determine conceptual tempo, for potential use as a tool for the clinician. Discusses the psychological factors inherent in impulsivity. Suggests the primary deficits are a lack of norms as well as an alternate form. (Author)

Examined the validity of an instrument designed to assess trainees' Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) skills. Results show graduate clinical psychology students with advanced MMPI expertise more accurately described a patient based on his MMPI than did undergraduates. A second experiment documented this sensitivity to changes in…

Determined the construct validity of the California Test of Personality-Secondary Level (CTP) to ascertain whether 12 components of personality are separate and meaningful (N=1,800). Findings indicated that the 180 items of the CTP are represented better as a nine-factor construct. (PAS)

Investigated the relationship between the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 4-3 high-point pair and the Overcontrolled-Hostility (O-H) scale in prisoners, psychology clinic outpatients, and inpatients at a state hospital. Results suggested the O-H scale and the 4-3 high-point pair are correlated and seem to measure the same types of…