Ethics & Assessment

Question 1

Describe MMPI uses and potential misuses

Answer 1

The MMPI, or Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, is a widely used clinical personality inventory primarily used for assessing psychiatric disorders and personality disorders. It consists of a large number of true-false questions designed to measure various psychological traits and symptoms.

Potential uses include: Research in personality psychology and psychopathology, and diagnosis.

Potential misuses include:
Using the MMPI in non-clinical settings or populations for which it was not intended, leading to misinterpretation of results.
Failing to consider cultural or demographic differences that may influence test performance and validity.

Question 2

List and describe the MMPI Principle subscale (10) in order.

Answer 2

1. Hypochondriasis (Hs):
   abnormal preoccupation with one’s health and a fear of having or getting a disease despite physical evidence to the contrary.
2. Depression (D):
   Persistent sadness and loss of interest.
3. Hysteria (Hy):
   Health, shyness, cynicism, neuroticism.
4. Psychopathic deviate (Pd):
   Rebellious, impulsive, lack of warm social attachment.
5. Masculinity-femininity (Mf):
   Distinguish male-female sex role behaviour.
6. Paranoia (P)
7. Psychasthenia (Pt):
   Worried, apprehensive, jumpy, compulsive rituals.
8. Schizophrenia (Sc):
   Unusual thoughts, hallucinations, and confusion.
9. Hypomania (Ma):
   Hyperactive, energetic, talkative.
10. Social Introversion (Si)

Question 3

List and describe the MMPI Supplementary subscale (first 5)

Answer 3

Beliefs in Human Goodness (S1): Measures an individual’s positive view of human nature and trust in others.

Serenity (S2): Assesses inner calmness, emotional stability, and overall serenity.

Contentment with Life (S3): Evaluates an individual’s satisfaction with life and general contentment.

Patience / Denial of Irritability (S4): Examines patience and the tendency to deny feelings of irritability.

Denial of Moral Flaws (S5): Assesses the extent to which an individual denies any moral or ethical shortcomings

Question 4

List and describe the MMPI Validity scales (4).

Answer 4

Cannot Say:
Number of items left blank.
Measures evasiveness.

Lie (L):
15 items that are overtly perfect, such as “I do not always tell the truth”.

Infrequency (F):
64 items, 90% the same by everybody polled.
Faking– unconventional/rebellious/antisocial-sincere.

Correction (K):
30 items, concealing psychopathology.
Another lie scale.
Resist evaluation/narcissistic- independant/enterprising- poor self image.
F-K Index for faking it, trying to look good.

Question 5

Interpret MMPI Score Sheet

Answer 5

An example of an MMPI score sheet might display scores for each of the principle subscales alongside validity scales. Each scale would have a numerical score indicating the individual’s responses.

Interpreting an MMPI score involves comparing the individual’s scores to established norms.However, interpretation isn’t solely based on individual scales; patterns across scales, as well as validity scales, are also considered.

Question 6

List the components of an clinicl assessment report.

Answer 6

Client Information

Reason for Referral

Presenting Problem

History and Background

Assessment Tools Used

Observations and Impressions

Test Results

Diagnostic Impressions

Recommendations

Summary and Conclusion

Signature and Date

Question 7

List the goals of personality assessment.

Answer 7

Precision, Communication, Prediction

Question 8

Compare reliability versus validity.

Answer 8

Validity means that the test measures what it is meant to, Reliability means the test can be repeated and maintain relative consistency.

Question 9

List and define the different types of reliability measurement.

Answer 9

Reliability coefficent, test-retest reliability, examiner reliability.

Question 10

List and define the different types of validity.

Answer 10

Face validity, content validity, criterion validity, construct validity, discriminant validity, external validity.

Question 11

Describe what Objective Self Reports are, provide
examples, and list its pros and cons

Answer 11

Objective self report:
The subject, as objectively as possible, completes a standardized test about oneself.
Easy to administer and standardized, but not truly objective and don’t take outliers into account well (MMPI).

Question 12

List the projective techniques (x5).

Answer 12

Rorschach Test

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Sentence Completion Test

Szondi Test

Kinetic House-Tree-Person Test

Question 13

List the psychophysiological techniques (x3).

Answer 13

Electrophysiological Measurement

Biochemical Measurement

Cortical Measurement

Question 14

List the behavioural techniques (x4).

Answer 14

Direct observation

Self monitoring

Self-report behavioural inventories

Cognitive-behavioural assessments

Question 15

Describe the how, what, pros, and cons of the Rorschach Test.

Answer 15

How they measure: Participants describe what they see in a series of inkblots.

What they measure: Unconscious thoughts and feelings.

Strengths: Provides insights into thought processes and emotional functioning.

Limitations: Highly subjective; interpretations can vary widely among examiners.

Question 16

Describe the how, what, pros, and cons of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Answer 16

How they measure: Participants create stories about ambiguous scenes.

What they measure: Underlying motives, concerns, and how they perceive the social world.

Strengths: Rich qualitative data about personal narratives and interpersonal dynamics.

Limitations: Subjective interpretation; requires skilled examiners.

Question 17

Describe the how, what, pros, and cons of the Sentence Completion Test

Answer 17

How they measure: Participants complete open-ended sentences (e.g., “I feel happiest when…”).

What they measure: Attitudes, beliefs, motivations.

Strengths: Easier to administer and analyze; provides direct insight into specific thoughts.

Limitations: Responses may be influenced by social desirability; less depth than other projective techniques.

Question 18

Describe the how, what, pros, and cons of the Szondi Test

Answer 18

How they measure: Participants select preferred faces from a set of photos.

What they measure: Repressed impulses and personality traits.

Strengths: Claims to reveal deep-seated aspects of personality.

Limitations: Lacks scientific validity and reliability; interpretations are controversial.

Question 19

Describe the how, what, pros, and cons of the Kinetic House-Tree-Person Test

Answer 19

How they measure: Participants draw a house, a tree, and a person.

What they measure: Emotional functioning and interpersonal relationships.

Strengths: Can provide insight into self-perception and emotional state.

Limitations: Interpretations can be highly subjective and inconsistent.

Question 20

Describe the how, what, pros, and cons of the Direct Observation

Answer 20

How they measure: Observing and recording behaviors in their natural environment or a controlled setting.

What they measure: Frequency, duration, and context of specific behaviors.

Strengths: Provides accurate and detailed data on actual behaviors; useful for identifying patterns.

Limitations: Time-consuming; observer presence might influence behavior (Hawthorne effect).

Question 21

Describe the how, what, pros, and cons of the Self-Monitoring

Answer 21

How they measure: Individuals record their own behaviors, thoughts, and feelings as they occur.

What they measure: Personal habits, internal states, and reactions to specific situations.

Strengths: Promotes self-awareness and accountability; flexible and easy to implement.

Limitations: Reliant on individual honesty and accuracy; can be affected by memory biases.

Question 22

Describe the how, what, pros, and cons of the Self-Report Behavioural Inventories

Answer 22

How they measure: Questionnaires where individuals rate the frequency or intensity of their behaviors.

What they measure: Behavioral tendencies, habits, and psychological symptoms.

Strengths: Standardized and easy to administer; allows for large-scale data collection.

Limitations: Subject to response biases (e.g., social desirability); may not capture context.

Question 23

Describe the how, what, pros, and cons of the Cognitive-Behavioral Assessments (e.g., Thought Sampling)

Answer 23

How they measure: Recording thoughts and feelings in specific situations to identify patterns.

What they measure: Cognitive processes and their relationship to behaviors.

Strengths: Links thoughts to behaviors; useful for identifying maladaptive cognitive patterns.

Limitations: Requires consistency and honesty from participants; may be influenced by situational factors.

Question 24

Describe the how, what, pros, and cons of the Electrophysiological Measurement

Answer 24

How they measure: Utilizing neuroimaging techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG), positron emission tomography (PET), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor brain activity.

What they measure: Brain function and activity patterns in response to various stimuli or during different cognitive tasks.

Strengths: High spatial and temporal resolution; provides detailed information about brain regions involved in specific tasks or emotional responses.

Limitations: Can be expensive and require specialized equipment; interpretation can be complex and context-dependent.

Question 25

Describe the how, what, pros, and cons of the Biochemical Measurement

Answer 25

How they measure: Analyzing biological samples (e.g., blood, saliva) to measure levels of neurotransmitters, hormones, and other biochemicals.

What they measure: Biological markers associated with psychological states and traits, such as stress hormones (cortisol) or neurotransmitter levels.

Strengths: Provides direct insight into the biological basis of behavior and psychological states; useful for identifying physiological underpinnings of mental health conditions.

Limitations: Invasive and can be costly; biochemical levels can be influenced by multiple factors and may not directly correlate with specific behaviors or psychological states.

Question 26

Describe the how, what, pros, and cons of the Cortical Measurement

Answer 26

How they measure: Utilizing neuroimaging techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG), positron emission tomography (PET), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor brain activity.

What they measure: Brain function and activity patterns in response to various stimuli or during different cognitive tasks.

Strengths: High spatial and temporal resolution; provides detailed information about brain regions involved in specific tasks or emotional responses.

Limitations: Very expensive and requires sophisticated equipment and expertise; may not always be practical for everyday assessment.