Psychometric properties of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A) Clinical, Content, and Supplementary scales in a forensic sample

J Pers Assess. 2011 Nov;93(6):566-81. doi: 10.1080/00223891.2011.608752.

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the internal psychometric properties and external correlates of scores on the Clinical, Content, and Supplementary scales in a forensic sample of 496 adolescents (315 boys and 181 girls) who were court-ordered to receive psychological evaluations. We examined Cronbach's alpha coefficients, scale intercorrelation matrices, and frequencies of scale elevations. Further, we found varying degrees of support for the convergent and discriminant validity of scores on the MMPI-A (Butcher et al., 1992 ) Clinical, Content, and Supplementary scales. This study adds to the body of literature establishing the utility of the MMPI-A in forensic evaluations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
  • Female
  • Forensic Psychiatry / instrumentation*
  • Humans
  • Juvenile Delinquency / psychology*
  • MMPI / standards*
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Personality*
  • Psychology, Adolescent / instrumentation
  • Psychometrics
  • Regression Analysis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sex Factors
  • Students / psychology