The MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical Scales: a paradigmatic shift in scale development.
Tellegen et al. (2003) proposed fundamental changes in MMPI-2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) scale development by discarding empirical scale development in favor of construct validation via Jackson's (1970) sequential system of scale development. As a result of their efforts, a general distress factor (Demoralization) was identified and 8 Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales were developed. Using 7,330 clinical cases from Caldwell's (1997) data set, in this study, we sought to cross-validate the MMPI-2 RC Scales. Scale homogeneity was confirmed with high alpha coefficients and interitem correlations in the expected range. We also achieved a major objective of reducing interscale correlations. In replicating Tellegen et al.'s principal components analysis, we achieved a high concordance for 6 of the 8 RC Scales. We critically examine these results in light of Jackson's construct validation. We discuss the clinical usefulness of the MMPI-2 RC Scales within the context of current and future research.
Rogers
Richard
R
Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, 76203-1280, USA. rogers_1@hotmail.com
Sewell
Kenneth W
KW
Harrison
Kimberly S
KS
Jordan
Mandy J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011586:Psychology, Clinical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013781:Texas