NCJ Number
39285
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1976) Pages: 419-425
Date Published
1976
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINED THE UTILITY OF THE MMPI AS A TOOL IN DIFFERENTIATING AMONG POLICE APPLICANTS AND IN PREDICTING APPLICANT SUCCESS AND FAILURE BY COMPARING SCORES OF THREE GROUPS OF LOS ANGELES POLICE APPLICANTS.
Abstract
THE THREE GROUPS COMPARED WERE 1) THE SUCCESS GROUP - 100 OFFICERS WHO HAD SUCCESSFULLY FUNCTIONED IN THE LOS ANGELES POLICE FOR AT LEAST 3 YEARS; 2) THE REJECTED GROUP - 100 OFFICERS WHO FAILED THE LOS ANGELES POLICE PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION; AND 3) THE ATTRITION GROUP - 100 MEN WHO WERE SELECTED FOR POLICE DUTY BUT WHO WERE LATER SEPARATED FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE SCORES OF EACH OF THESE GROUPS ON THE MMPI (MINNESOTA MULTIPHASIC PERSONALITY INVENTORY) WERE COMPARED. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE MEAN MMPI PROFILE OF THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT GROUP WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE PROFILES OF THE REJECTED GROUP OR THE ATTRITION GROUP. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT A PREDICTIVE VALIDATION STUDY USING THE SUCCESS GROUP AS A BASIS FOR POLICE SELECTION WOULD BE NECESSARY TO CONFIRM THE DISCRIMINATIVE VALUE OF THE MMPI IN POLICE SELECTION....DMC