| Abstract: | The substantial number of MMPI research scales developed during the last 50 yrs provides a unique opportunity to compare the practical value of a large number of related scales and the methodologies used to develop them. To this end, the concurrent validity of 93 MMPI scales as measures of acting out (aggressiveness, chemical dependency, delinquency, family conflict, and school behavior problems) was evaluated in a sample of 327 adolescent inpatients. Results generally support the construct validity of the Psychopathic Deviate scale but also reveal several research scales that function well as broad measures of acting out. There were, however, relatively few scales that were narrowly related to specific behavioral tendencies. Scales consisting exclusively of face-valid items generally performed better in this regard than did scales including "subtle" items, and they appear to have greater clinical utility with this population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
