REDUCING MMPI-2 DEFENSIVENESS - THE EFFECT OF SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTIONS ON RETEST VALIDITY IN A JOB APPLICANT SAMPLE

The MMPI-2 is often used for screening job applicants when public safe ty or security are at risk. Inherent in such applications is concern f or profile validity and test defensiveness. In this study, we examine the impact of revised instructions on profile validity for a group of job applicants who initially produced invalid profiles. Participants w ere 271 male applicants for airline pilot positions. Of these, 72 prod uced invalid defensive MMPI-2 profiles during preemployment screening. The MMPI-2 was readministered to these applicants with instructions i nforming them of validity scales and instructing them to respond in a more open, honest manner. Comparisons were made between valid and inva lid profiles for initial administrations and between valid and invalid profiles at readministration. Some clinical scales were more elevated for valid, nondefensive profiles. Most content scales showed more ele vation for valid profiles, and 12% of the applicants who were retested produced significant elevations (T greater than or equal to 65) on th e content scales. Profiles were similar to those produced by employed pilots of a previous study.