RESPONSE BIAS IN SELF-REPORTED HISTORY OF PLAINTIFFS COMPARED WITH NONLITIGATING PATIENTS

Response bias refers to systematic error in the data produced by patie nts or research subjects, e.g., due to erroneous recall or reporting. In forensic set tings, response bias appears to be associated with the nature of the proceedings. The present study rested whether patients in litigation exhibit different response patterns than nonlitigating p atients when asked about their preinjury problems. 34 litigants and 80 nonlitigants rated various areas of cognitive and emotional functioni ng as problematic in the past and currently. The primary finding was t hat plaintiffs reported preinjury functioning superior to that of cont rols. These findings suggest the need for caution in inferences that l itigants are either reliable or deceitful because response biases may affect self-reports in a misleading fashion.