Response character styles in adolescents: a replication of convergent validity between the MMPI-A and the Rorschach

This study explored the extent to which similar or discordant response character styles (RCS) affected convergence between MMPI-A and Rorschach findings in a sample of 673 adolescents from a psychiatric inpatient setting. Meyer's (Meyer, 1997; Meyer, Riethmiller, Brooks, Benoit, & Handler, 2000) findings for adult samples were generally replicated in that adolescents showing similar RCS across both measures showed moderate to strong relationships between Rorschach and MMPI-A indicants of affective distress, psychosis, and interpersonal wariness, whereas those showing discordant RCS demonstrated negligible or negative correlations between these indicants. This pattern was evident for conceptually similar, but not conceptually unrelated variable pairs. Similarity and discordance of RCS was also found to have an impact on relationships with external criterion variables, including therapist ratings and discharge diagnoses. Moderated regression analysis supports the hypothesis that RCS moderates the strength of the relationship between Rorschach and MMPI-A. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Current status and future directions of psychological assessment: introduction

This article introduces the major themes and context for the special series on the current status and future directions of psychological assessment. The internal and external challenges to assessment are outlined along with a listing of professional publications responding to these challenges. Each of the articles in the Special Series is introduced and includes topics on the current status of assessment, survival strategies, financial efficacy, and treatment planning.

Financial efficacy of clinical assessment: rational guidelines and issues for future research

Whereas the financial efficacy of assessment has been well documented in industrial/organizational settings, there is no comparable literature within the field of clinical assessment. This has become a significant issue due to the increasing cost-consciousness of managed health care organizations. A rational means of increasing the financial efficacy of assessment is outlined, which includes the following: (a) focus on domains most relevant to treatment planning and outcome; (b) use formal assessment for risk management; (c) target problems most likely to result in cost savings (i.e., dissociation, somatization, panic); (d) increase the use of computer-assisted assessment; (e) use time-efficient instruments; (f) more closely link assessment, feedback, and therapy; and (g) integrate treatment planning, monitoring progress, and evaluating outcome. Issues and strategies for developing a research program include clearly defining what should be considered a cost, enumerating possible outcome variables, optimal follow-up time frame, selection of instruments, and the function of assessment.

The Convergent Validity of MMPI and Rorschach Scales: An Extension Using Profile Scores to Define Response and Character Styles on Both Methods and a Reexamination of Simple Rorschach Response

Past research indicated the convergence of Rorschach and MMPI scales may be a function of (a) simple Rorschach response frequency (R) or (b) complex response-character styles on both methods. In this study, new criteria were developed for defining the second assumption using F and K from the MMPI and R and Lambda from the Rorschach. Although substantially different from the factor criteria used previously (KS = .45 and .30), the new criteria still produced the expected pattern of correlations among MMPI and Rorschach scales. Averaged across 17 constructs, the new criteria produced strong validity coefficients for patients with similar styles (M composite r = .50), though they were less effective for patients with discordant styles (M composite r = -.27). It was also demonstrated that R by itself does not moderate convergent validity. Rather, statistical modeling with two sets of 300 random samples (a) demonstrated the prior findings related to R were the result of sampling error and (b) supported the general hypothesis that Rorschach and MMPI scales correlate to the extent response-character styles correlate. Implications are considered.