On the detection of willful falsifications in the MMPI.

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Abstract
It seems quite evident that the patterning of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) profile can be significantly altered by the willful intent of the subject since it is a self-report device. The purpose of the present study is to investigate methods, including the F - K index, Ds scale, L + K index, and a variety of unexplored linear combinations of scores, that might be useful in distinguishing between malingered, faking good, and honestly reported profiles obtained in a screening situation. Fifty college students, including 25 males and 25 females ranging in age from 20 to 22 years, were used as subjects. In the first part of the investigation the subjects in one group were asked to respond to the MMPI in such a manner as to appear normal or socially desirable as would an attractive job or school applicant. The subjects in the second group were asked to respond to the MMPI in a manner as to appear sufficiently deviant to be exempt from some social responsibility such as military service but not so deviant that institutionalization would be required. In the second portion of the investigation all 50 subjects were asked to respond to the MMPI again but this time in a completely honest manner as if they were interested in gaining information concerning themselves. The results of this investigation lend support to the usefulness of Gough's Ds scale and F - K dissimulation index as methods of detecting malingering. This data also supports Cofer's (Cofer et al., 1949) findings that the F scale taken alone can be useful for the detection of malingered records. In contrast, this data does not support Cofer's findings that a L + K index will satisfactorily detect faking-good records nor the more general proposition that the K scale taken alone is practical for this purpose. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)

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