The Effects of Testing Circumstance and Education Level on MMPI-2 Correction Scale Scores

Details

• Creators:
  Williams, Clara A. ; King, Raymond E.
• Corporate Creators:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Office of Aerospace Medicine
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Selection and appointment
  • Psychological tests
  • Education
  • Flight personnel
  • Personnel Screening
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT/FAA/AM-10/3
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Description:
  The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) is used by the Federal Aviation Administration to assess psychopathology in air traffic control specialist applicants after a conditional offer of employment is extended. Two groups are compared in this study on their level of Scale K, which is used as a measure of defensiveness (putting one’s best foot forward – “faking good”), but which may be influenced by socioeconomic status and education. Group 1 had already been hired and took the MMPI-2 as part of a voluntary research protocol while in training. Group 2 took the MMPI-2 as part of their medical screening process for hiring. There was a significant difference between the two groups (2 indicated a higher level of K than 1) on the level of K, suggesting that K is likely measuring defensiveness. Group 1 faced no consequences for their results, while Group 2 faced potential additional psychological assessment as a consequence of their MMPI-2 performance, and possibly even ultimate medical disqualification. While the hypothesis that groups would differ on K as a function of testing circumstances was supported, the hypothesis that K would rise as a function of education was not.
• Content Notes:
  Work was accomplished under approved task AM-523
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/57098/dot_57098_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.63 MB]
• Collection(s):
  FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:f38a2c1c7bbb5fbca129937ac64314a952d7706975d0208e6d42a217cd238053