Customer Reviews

Development and Use of the MMPI-2 Content Scales (MMPI-2 Monographs)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In a critical area of MMPI-2 interpretation which is often overlooked Butcher, Graham, Williams & Ben-Porath have covered a topical area which serves not only as an adjunct to traditional clinical interpretation, but offers the serious MMPI and MMPI-2 scholar the tools to demonstrate competency in clinical interpretation of the MMPI-2 Personality inventory.

Although I found philosophical challenges, (an astute attorney will point out the technical differences between a "test" and an "inventory" -- a "test" has right and wrong answers, an inventory does not), I found the work to be of a generally scholarly nature and a most welcome addition to my bookshelf. The authors did their research, but then what else would be expected from the primary author, Butcher, who has previously spent time in remote rural areas giving MMPI's to members of serpent-handling religious cults?

I was impressed with the thoroughness of the volume. Four stars in lieu of five, only because of some terms which were used are not consistent with appropriate terminology for traditional psychometrics, and an error found in a technical aspect of the work (information available on request.)

This volume should be required reading for psychologists who desire to demonstrate competence in use of the MMPI-2. However, the MMPI remains, in my opinion, the instrument of choice and one or more of the authors have certainly contributed to that assessment instument as well.

It should be pointed out that throughout the development/revision of the MMPI into the current MMPI-2 it was reported the changes were made, in part, because of antiquated wording. However, the authors reveal the MMPI-2 revision retained the original wording for item 369. Go figure. Worse yet, that item seems to also inappropriately substitute the word "feeling" for what is actually, fairly clearly, a "belief". The revision was developed by a team of psychologists, whom the authors could have pointed out should have "known better."

Overall however, an excellent reference for the competent psychological clinican. The quality and research behind this publication is apparant.

JD #30

Everyone says it's i the appendix, but i don't see any of the questions in the appendix, just some forms, like the couples forms, relationship forms...am i missing something?

How on earth the MMPI-2 test managed to be leaked out in this book I have no idea. I do know that the psychology community must be hopping mad about it. It is supossed to be a closely guarded secret, so that when they test people with it the person does not know what they will be asked and cannot cheat the test. Apparently the author realized that the rest of his book was horrible, and put the test in an appendix to get people to buy his book. I am sure that if this was his plan, he has been rather sucessful.

The test itself is easy to take, and with a little online reading you can become proficient enough to grade your own test (though, remember, it is supossed to be done by "professionals," so your results are not necessarily 100% accurate.)

Overall grade: The actual writing of the author gets a D, but the book overall gets a B since it includes the MMPI-2.

Despite the closely guarded nature of the MMPI's questions, they're all here--yes, all of them--in an appendix. What were they thinking? Anyway, this is the main reason to buy the book.

This book does not have the test questions in the back like some pages on other websites claim. It may be very useful for a practitioner, but for a lay person trying to use the test questions to help themselves, it is not.

This is a good book with most all you need to give yourself the
MMPI-2 ON MOST of the scales.

Some people who need more explanation to do this find the
web page http://cyberper.cnc.net/MMPI2news.htm helpful