The Mezzich MMPI regression formula revisited

In a sample of depressed psychiatric inpatients, the Mezzich regression formula, based on five MMPI scales, correlated moderately with clinicians' judgments and yielded few false negative diagnoses in identifying patients with unipolar Major Depressive Disorder, but was less effective in eliminating false positives.     

MMPI Adolescent Norms: Patterns and Trends Across 4 Decades

This article examines central issues involving the accuracy of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) adolescent norms through examination of findings from eight investigations (n = 17,286), reporting MMPI mean values for samples of normal adolescents conducted between 1949 and 1964, and four studies (n = 1,758), based on adolescent samples collected since 1975. issues related to sex and racial differences in adolescent samples are also examined. In addition, MMPI data from 1,315 normal adolescents, collected at the Mayo Foundation, and from 217 normal adolescents, collected in Norfolk, Virginia, are evaluated in relation to adult normative values on the Harris-Lingoes (Harris & Lingoes, 1955) content subscales to identify unique characteristics of adolescents' response patterns. Results support the adequacy of the adolescent norms, developed by Marks, Seeman, and Hailer (1974), for evaluation of samples of normal adolescents collected between 1947 and 1965. MMPI patterns, produced by contemporary samples of adolescents collected since 1975, are elevated above the Marks et al. norms on most clinical scales. This latter finding indicated the need for the development of new adolescent norms that more precisely reflect current adolescent response frequencies and patterns. Finally, results from Harris-Lingoes subscales are reviewed to highlight unique aspects of adolescent developmental experience and to underscore the necessity of development of age appropriate adolescent norms for MMPI special scales.     

Relevant MMPI Norms for Young Adult Air Force Trainees

Summary: The Air Force Medical Evaluation Test (AFMET) research program utilized the MMPI in a psychological screening battery for basic trainees. T-scores based an the Adult Norms seemed excessively elevated. The norms, for Minnesota Adolescents were tried for the 17-year-old airmen. MMPIs were given to entire squadrons not in the project, and the means and standard deviations were found to differ significantly from both earlier norms. These young adults differed in age, race, and education from the sample population of the Minnesota Adult Norms. T-conversion tobies based on these new means and standard deviations were compiled.     

Recent Adolescent MMPI Norms: T-Score Elevation Comparisons to Marks and Briggs

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality inventory (MMPI) norms developed by Marks and Briggs (1967/1972) have served as the standard adolescent norms used for over 10 years. Additional adolescent, norms, have recently been produced by Gottesman, Hanson, Kroeker, and Briggs (1987) and by Colligan and Offord (1989), thereby providing MMPI users with a potential choice of adolescent norms. Our study examines the effects of these adolescent norm sets on single-scale and profile elevations. In addition, we examine the ability of these norm sets to generate T-score values that would serve to discriminate accurately among adolescents in outpatient (n = 100), inpatient (n = 100), and normal (n = 100) settings. Results indicated teat the choice of adolescent norms resulted in important differences in profile elevation. Findings from the discriminant function analyses, however, indicated that these normative sets were roughly equivalent in discriminating among adolescents in the three settings.     

Comparability of Two-Point High-Point Code Patterns From Original MMPI Norms to MMPI-2 Norms for the Restandardization Sample

Using records from the 1,138 males and 1,462 females in the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) restandardization sample (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989), two-point high-point code patterns generated from the original norms were compared to the patterns that these subjects obtained from the new norms. Although some code patterns proved to be quite stable across both norms, code comparability was generally lower in this community-based sample than was true for the records from samples of psychiatric patients also reported in Butcher et al. (1989). The sources of differences between the original and the new norms were reviewed, and the implications for profile interpretation based on code patterns were pointed out. The differences arising from the use of the MMPI-2 norms are appreciable; they highlight the need for new empirical data on the correlates of coding patterns based on these norms.     

Genetic variation and covariation in the original and restructured clinical scales of the MMPI

The authors investigated genetic variation and covariation among the original Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory clinical and validity scales and the restructured clinical scales. Variation in most of these scales was best explained by a combination of moderate genetic influences and environmental influences not shared by cotwins. Genetic correlations among the standard clinical scales were generally substantial and positive (M = .48), whereas genetic correlations between the clinical scales and the K scale were strong and negative. The restructured clinical scales were strongly correlated with the general Demoralization scale (M = .55), with lower genetic correlations among the remaining scales (M = .39).     

MMPI validity measures: a comparative study of original with alternative indices.

A comparison was made of the original MMPI validity scales (L,F,K,F - K) with validity scales devised subsequently (TR, Ca, Ds, Mp, Ws - Wo) to determine which scales, the older or newer, were better, either alone or combined, in detecting fake-good, fake-bad, and careless responding. This was accomplished by having groups of subjects answer the MMPI first under standard conditions and then, 1 week later, under one of the falsifying conditions. A group of 40 psychiatric patients responded under standard and then fake-good conditions; a group of 40 university students responded under standard and then fake-bad conditions; and a group of 20 students responded under standard and then fake-careless conditions. Results indicate that both the traditional and newer validity indices were equally good at detecting fake-good responding. None of the indices was adequate in detecting careless responses. We conclude, as a consequence of this study, that the newer scales perform a clinically useful function when faking good is suspected on the MMPI.     

Original Adult MMPI Norms in Normal Samples: A Review With Implications for Future Developments

Among the most consistent criticisms of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality inventory (MMPI) has been the adequacy of the standardly employed adult norms. Recent work at the Mayo Foundation has provided revised adult norms, and the Restandardization Project at the University of Minnesota Press will soon provide an additional norm set. This article reviews findings from 21 studies of normal adults, comparing obtained MMPI scale values to the standard norms. These comparisons indicate that the traditional adult norms may have contained detectable degrees of bias since their publication, and that consistent patterns of differences from standard MMPI norms can be found in independent studies published as early as 1949. Two separate considerations impact on the development of new adult norms: the research need for adult norms which accurately reflect the response patterns of the general population and the clinical need to evaluate individual psychiatric patients on norms that produce codetypes related to an empirical literature spanning more than 40 years. This study notes the inherent tension between these two purposes and discusses the implications of new adult MMPI norms for research and clinical practice.     

(Hu)man versus mean revisited: MMPI group data and psychiatric diagnosis.

A meta-analysis of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) data from 403 control and psychiatric samples was used to (a) examine demographics associated with previously published MMPI studies, (b) test Goldberg's (1972) indexes for predicting normal versus deviant and neurotic versus psychotic group membership, (c) compare multiple regression, discriminant function, and logistic regression analyses commonly used to study the relation between the MMPI and diagnostic group membership, and (d) examine the signal within the MMPI as it relates to current psychiatric diagnosis. Group data were found to be efficient indicators of the relation between the MMPI and diagnosis, although efficiency is compromised by within-sample heterogeneity. The 3 statistical methods examined obtained equivalent results. Regression models related to group prediction are presented.     

Use of Local Norms to Improve High-Point Code-Type Concordance of Two Short Forms of the MMPI

Criticisms of short forms of the MMPI have been based on claims of unsatisfactory high-point code-type concordance rates. The use of local norms has been suggested as a possible solution for these low concordance rates. In this study local norms for three client populations were developed for the MMPI-168 and Faschingbauer's abbreviated MMPI. These local norms did not significantly increase high-point code-type concordance. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed and suggestions for future research offered.     

Comparability of two-point high-point code patterns from original MMPI norms to MMPI-2 norms for the restandardization sample

Using records from the 1,138 males and 1,462 females in the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) restandardization sample (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989), two-point high-point code patterns generated from the original norms were compared to the patterns that these subjects obtained from the new norms. Although some code patterns proved to be quite stable across both norms, code comparability was generally lower in this community-based sample than was true for the records from samples of psychiatric patients also reported in Butcher et al. (1989). The sources of differences between the original and the new norms were reviewed, and the implications for profile interpretation based on code patterns were pointed out. The differences arising from the use of the MMPI-2 norms are appreciable; they highlight the need for new empirical data on the correlates of coding patterns based on these norms.     

Assessing Workgroup Norms for Civility: The Development of the Civility Norms Questionnaire-Brief

Purpose

This research describes the development and validation of the Civility Norms Questionnaire-Brief (CNQ-B), a 4-item measure designed to assess workgroup climate for civility. Climate for civility is defined as employee perceptions of norms supporting respectful treatment among workgroup members.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Five samples (N?=?2,711) of adult employees, including two from distinct organizations and three from multiple organizations, responded to the CNQ-B and additional measures.

Findings

Evidence for the internal consistency, and convergent and discriminant validity of the CNQ-B was observed. Additionally, evidence for the criterion-related and incremental validity of the CNQ-B was demonstrated as it was a significant predictor of later-assessed incivility experiences and accounted for significant variability in work attitudes beyond incivility experiences and related measures.

Implications

The CNQ-B is a psychometrically sound instrument despite being composed of only four items. The CNQ-B can be used by researchers and practitioners alike to assess climate for civility, to study climate for civility as a precursor to incivility experiences, and to target workgroups that could benefit from interventions (e.g., training) to enhance civility and reduce incivility.

Originality/Value

This is one of the first studies to conduct a rigorous psychometric assessment of a measure of workgroup climate for civility that is grounded in theory and research on workplace civility and incivility. At four items, the CNQ-B is the shortest assessment tool currently available that is designed for this purpose.     

Norms and Necessity

Modality presents notorious philosophical problems, including the epistemic problem of how we could come to know modal facts and metaphysical problems about how to place modal facts in the natural world. These problems arise from thinking of modal claims as attempts to describe modal features of this world that explain what makes them true. Here I propose a different view of modal discourse in which talk about what is “metaphysically necessary” does not aim to describe modal features of the world, but, rather, provides a particularly useful way of expressing constitutive semantic and conceptual rules in the object language. The result is a “modal normativist” view that enables us to avoid the epistemic problems of modality and mitigate the metaphysical worries, while also leaving open the possibility of a unified account of the function of modal language. Finally, I address a serious challenge: we have the norms we do in order to track the modal facts of the world, so that the order of explanation must go in the opposite direction. I close by showing how the normativist may answer that challenge.