Personal Injury Law

Controversy Surrounds Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and Fake Bad Scale Tests

By Bruce Stern

The most widely used personality test in the world, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) has recently caused concern and sparked feuds among scholars. The test, initially developed over 70 years ago used to screen candidates for highly sensitive jobs (politics, government, police, etc.), has always been somewhat controversial, but now the test has been brought into the courtroom and has led to two internal investigations at the university.

Recent criticism states that these changes to the test (such as a new scoring system and a revised form which removed 40% of the questions) lessen the test's credibility. Additionally, the addition of the Fake Bad Scale, which I've publicly renounced several times, is used to discredit a victim's statements in personal injury cases, which mistakenly brands some people as 'fakers' or exaggerating their symptoms and injuries.

While the university, who receives roughly one million dollars a year in royalties, says the test has only improved with these changes, I adamantly disagree. The MMPI and Fake Bad Scale tests are simply used to deprive injured claimants of fair compensation.

Full post as published by Traumatic Brain Injury Law Blog on September 03, 2009 (boomark / email).