title: Convergent validity of a screening measure designed to identify defendants feigning knowledge deficits related to competence to stand trial.
abstract: Because some defendants undergoing evaluation of their competence to stand trial may feign limitations in their ability to understand and participate in the legal process, assessment of their response style is critical. Preliminary research indicates that the Inventory of Legal Knowledge (ILK) has some potential to identify persons feigning competence related impairments. This study examined the convergent validity of the ILK using a sample of criminal defendants who, while undergoing competency evaluations, were administered the ILK and other response style measures. Moderate correlations between the ILK and these other tools provided some support for the ILK as a measure of response style.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. otto@fmhi.usf.edu
authors.forename: Randy K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: Jeffrey E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Musick
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sherrod
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D057237:Criminals / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008403:Mass Screening; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult