Indirect indices for faking detection in questionnaires make use of a respondent's deviant or unlikely response pattern over the course of the questionnaire to identify them as a faker. Compared with established direct faking indices (i.e., lying and social desirability scales), indirect indices have at least two advantages: First, they cannot be…

Aberrant behavior refers to any type of unusual behavior that would not be expected under normal circumstances. In educational and psychological testing, such behaviors have the potential to severely bias the aberrant examinee's test score while also jeopardizing the test scores of countless others. It is therefore crucial that aberrant examinees…

Evidence supports the use of brief psychosis-spectrum screening tools for identifying individuals at an increased risk of developing a psychotic disorder. Screening has not been well studied in general mental health settings that serve young adults in the age range associated with highest risk for psychosis. This study explored the feasibility of…

Overidentification of minority students in special education is a significant concern. It is imperative that the districts effectively train professionals who administer testing for qualification of special education. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to discover why minority students are disproportionately enrolled in special…

People tend to attach less value to a good if they know a delay will occur before they obtain it. For example, people value receiving $100 tomorrow more than receiving $100 in 10 years. We explored one reason for this tendency (due to Parfit, 1984): In terms of psychological properties, such as beliefs, values, and goals, the decision maker is…

Objective: To study the effect of administration sequence on Conner's continuous performance test (CPT-II) scores in clients requesting psychological assessment. It was hypothesized that when administered at the end rather than beginning of a test battery, the test scores will show higher symptom severity. If present, order effects may cause the…

School counselors influence the referral process and delivery of educational recommendations. Their perceptions of students' cognitive abilities are likely to influence their referral decisions as well as their interpretation and use of the results of psychological testing. The Cattell-Horn-Carroll, (CHC), model of intelligence, is gaining…

Describes Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Looks at history and development of the MBTI, characteristics, scores, Jung's theory of lifelong development, the dynamic interaction of the four functions measured by the MBTI, the construction of the MBTI, use with groups, how to use type tables, and use of the MBTI in career counseling. (NB)

A STATEWIDE PROGRAM WAS INITIATED IN WYOMING FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISCOVERING THE EXTENT OF MENTAL RETARDATION AMONG ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS IN THE STATE, DETERMINING WHERE THE MENTALLY RETARDED ARE FOUND, AND PLANNING AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR THEM. GROUP MENTAL TESTS WERE APPLIED TO 67,620 CHILDREN WHICH REPRESENTED 91.8 PERCENT OF THE…

Diagnostic hit rates for the Diagnostic Inventory of Personality and Symptoms were compared to diagnosis by psychiatrists of the same patients. The Probability Scale employing Bayesian concepts and base rates correctly classified 70% of the patients and was more accurate by far than the other two methods used. (Author/ABB)

When embedded within a continuum of mental health services including both prevention and treatment, school-based mental health identification programs can promote improved academic and mental health functioning among students. This article describes the scientific status of assessment instrumentation that may be used for early mental health…

Children are considered "disturbed" when they behave in ways that are unacceptable to signficant adults in their environment. Diagnosis of such children, however, is more often for administrative purposes than for the purpose of preventing further and more serious disturbance. (Author/GC)

Investigated with a sample of over 25,000 students in the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth grades was the use of the Myklebust Learning Quotient (LQ) as one basis for classifying learning disabilities. Investigated were the distribution properties of the LQ when computed on scores from the California Achievement Tests, the Comprehensive Tests of…

Outlined is the Special Academic Development Program devised by the author, a specific learning disabilities consultant at the secondary level. (JG)

A general approach to the identification of individuals mismeasured by a standardized psychological test is reviewed. The method, originated by M. V. Levine and F. Drasgow (1988), has the advantage of statistical optimality. Use of optimal methods requires a psychometric model for normal responding and one for aberrant responding. (SLD)