Although definitions of validity have evolved considerably since L. J. Cronbach and P. E. Meehl's classic (1955) review, contemporary validity research continues to emphasize correlational analyses assessing predictor-criterion relationships, with most outcome criteria being self-reports. The present article describes an alternative way of…

The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (5th ed.; "DSM-V") will likely place more emphasis on dimensional representation of mental disorders. However, it is often argued that categorical diagnoses are preferable for professional communication, clinical decision-making, or distinguishing between individuals with and without a…

Interview methods are widely regarded as the standard for the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD), whereas self-report methods are considered a time-efficient alternative. However, the relative validity of these methods has not been sufficiently tested. The current study used data from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality…

For diagnosing many mental disorders, the current "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" ("DSM") system weights each diagnostic criterion equally--each criterion counts the same toward meeting the diagnostic threshold. Research on the diagnostic efficiency of criteria, however, reveals that some diagnostic criteria are more useful…

The Bulimia Test--Revised (BULIT-R) was given to 23 female subjects who met the criteria for bulimia in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-IV) and 124 female controls. The BULIT-R appears to be a valid instruction for identifying individuals who meet DSM-IV criteria for bulimia. (SLD)

Two studies involving 98 prisoners and 92 undergraduates examined whether increased attention to interpersonal behaviors would improve assessments of the personality core underlying psychopathology. Twenty-one items were developed as the Interpersonal Measure of Psychopathology. Measurement of interpersonal behavior appears to improve prediction…

Validities of the Harris-Lingoes subscales and MacAndrew scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) in estimation of criterion measures were evaluated with 177 adolescent inpatients. Results were consistent with predictions that excitatory and inhibitory scales and subscales would be related to criteria of behavioral control…

In the context of developing assessment instruments in psychology, issues of standardization, norming procedures, and test reliability and validity are discussed. Criteria, guidelines, and rules of thumb are provided to help the clinician with instrument selection for a given psychological assessment. (SLD)