Detection strategies for feigned psychopathology: test development and effects of criminal charge simulation design on response styles

Psychological assessments are highly dependent on the forthrightness and sincere efforts of examinees. In particular, evaluations in forensic settings must consider whether feigning or other response styles are utilized to intentionally distort the clinical presentation. The current study examines the effectiveness of the Inventory of Legal Knowledge (ILK) at detecting feigned incompetency within a sample of jail detainees. As an ancillary goal, several scales of the Standardized Assessment of Miranda Abilities were included in the same within-subjects simulation design. Results of the total ILK score raised concerns regarding the mischaracterization of genuine offenders as “suggestive of feigning.” Pending cross-validation, however, a Revised ILK proved highly effective, using a floor effect detection strategy. Although intended for Miranda-specific abilities, several detection strategies on the Standardized Assessment of Miranda Abilities appeared to be very promising within a broadened context of feigned incompetency.

Download Full-text

Dodging Self-Incriminations: An Examination of Feigned Miranda Abilities on the SAMA

Assessment ◽

10.1177/1073191116634206 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (8) ◽

pp. 975-986 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Richard Rogers ◽

Sarah A. Henry ◽

Allyson J. Sharf ◽

Emily V. Robinson ◽

Margot M. Williams

Keyword(s):

Standardized Assessment ◽

Legal Knowledge ◽

Simulation Design ◽

Floor Effect ◽

Jail Detainees ◽

Forensic Assessments ◽

Within Subjects ◽

Detection Strategies ◽

Genuine Effort

Forensic assessments must always consider whether examinees are putting forth genuine effort or seeking to feign legally relevant incapacities. Miranda abilities are no exception when a putatively invalid Miranda waiver might result in the full suppression of an outright confession. Using a within-subjects simulation design, jail detainees were administered a representative Miranda warning and two Standardized Assessment of Miranda Abilities (SAMA) measures: Miranda Vocabulary Scale and Miranda Quiz. As expected, detainees have no difficulty in feigning severe deficits in their recall of the Miranda warning and portraying markedly impaired abilities on both SAMA measures. However, using floor-effect detection strategies, several feigning indicators proved effective at identifying likely feigned Miranda abilities. As an ancillary issue, the Inventory of Legal Knowledge was found to be very effective using both the traditional and revised scoring.

Download Full-text

Embedded WAIS-IV Detection Strategies and Feigned Cognitive Impairment: An Investigation of Malingered ADHD

Assessment ◽

10.1177/1073191120927788 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 44-56

Author(s):

Richard Rogers ◽

Sarah F. Velsor ◽

John W. Donnelly ◽

Brittney Dean

Keyword(s):

Academic Accommodations ◽

Simulation Design ◽

Floor Effect ◽

Adult Intelligence Scale ◽

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Chance Performance ◽

Wechsler Adult Intelligence ◽

Adhd Medications ◽

Detection Strategies

Malingered attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be strongly motivated on college campuses by recreational use of ADHD medications and to obtain unwarranted academic accommodations. Rather than rely on face-valid (easily faked) ADHD checklists, the study focused on the more complex Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth edition (WAIS-IV; Wechsler, 2008). However, the current literature has not yet investigated well-defined detection strategies for feigned WAIS-IV presentations. Using aprioristic standards, four different detection strategies from the feigning literature were adapted to certain WAIS-IV subscales. For example, significantly below-chance performance was applied to visual puzzles. Using a between-subjects simulation design, 74 undergraduate simulators were compared with archival data on 73 outpatients diagnosed with ADHD at a university psychology clinic. Very large effect sizes (Cohen’s ds from 1.66 to 1.90) differentiated between genuine and feigned ADHD. Two strategies (significantly below-chance performance and floor effect) showed strong promise if cross-validated for other feigning presentations. The study concluded with clinical considerations and future avenues for research.

Download Full-text

538: Protoype Aptima® PCA3 Molecular Urine Test: Development of a Method to Aid in the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

The Journal of Urology ◽

10.1016/s0022-5347(18)32784-8 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 175 (4S) ◽

pp. 174-175

Author(s):

Yves Fradet ◽

Jack Groskopf ◽

Sheila Walker ◽

Ina Deras ◽

Steve Brentano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Test Development ◽

Urine Test

Download Full-text

Forced Zero Cross-Loading Misspecifications in Measurement Component of Structural Equation Models

Methodology ◽

10.1027/1614-2241/a000084 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 138-152 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Hsien-Yuan Hsu ◽

Susan Troncoso Skidmore ◽

Yan Li ◽

Bruce Thompson

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Structural Model ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Equation Model ◽

Model Fit ◽

Model Specification ◽

Simulation Design ◽

Measurement Models ◽

Fit Statistics ◽

Path Coefficients

The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate the effect of constraining near-zero parameter cross-loadings to zero in the measurement component of a structural equation model. A Monte Carlo 3 × 5 × 2 simulation design was conducted (i.e., sample sizes of 200, 600, and 1,000; parameter cross-loadings of 0.07, 0.10, 0.13, 0.16, and 0.19 misspecified to be zero; and parameter path coefficients in the structural model of either 0.50 or 0.70). Results indicated that factor pattern coefficients and factor covariances were overestimated in measurement models when near-zero parameter cross-loadings constrained to zero were higher than 0.13 in the population. Moreover, the path coefficients between factors were misestimated when the near-zero parameter cross-loadings constrained to zero were noteworthy. Our results add to the literature detailing the importance of testing individual model specification decisions, and not simply evaluating omnibus model fit statistics.

Download Full-text