Comparing the Validity of MMPI-3 Scores in Prehire Psychological Screenings of Male and Female Police Officer Candidates

Bibliographic Data

ID21352306
AuthorsGina M Talerico (Department of Psychology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio), Jasmine J McCallum (Department of Psychology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio), Megan R Whitman (0000-0002-0150-453X, Kent State University), Anthony M Tarescavage (0000-0001-9608-2968, Department of Psychology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio, corresponding author), David M Corey (0000-0001-6512-4512, Corey & Stewart, Portland, Oregon), Yossef S Ben‐Porath (0000-0002-4597-6280, Kent State University)
Year2024
Volume106
Issue1
Pages27-36
Publication date2024-01-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality Assessment (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3891 • E-ISSN: 1532-7752
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00223891.2023.2191278
PMID37027242
OpenAlexW4362692702
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited29

Psychological testing is an important component of the screening process for public safety officers. The use of standardized measures is intended to increase the objectivity of preemployment evaluations, highlighting the importance of examining tests used in these assessments for evidence of differential validity. Differential validity is indicated when a screening measure is unequally associated with, or systematically over- or under-predicts, a criterion across demographic groups. In the current study, we examined for differential validity in Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) scores in a sample of 527 police officer candidates (455 males, 72 females). We first calculated correlations between MMPI-3 scores and job-relevant historical variables. Next, for variable pairings that yielded at least a small effect size, regression models were estimated in a multi-group framework comparing associations between MMPI-3 scores and the historical variables across men and women. The analyses yielded statistical evidence of negligible differential validity across gender in police officer screenings. Implications of these findings and limitations of this study are discussed

Incremental validity · Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory · Officer · Personality · Personality test · Psychometrics · Test validity · Clinical Psychology · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Policing Practices and Perceptions · Psychology · Social Psychology

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