NCJ Number
181016
Journal
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: Fall 1999 Pages: 35-39
Date Published
1999
Length
5 pages
Annotation
In this study, State police trooper cadets were administered a number of screening tests, including the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2), prior to academy admission; their performance at the police academy was then analyzed and related to their performance on the MMPI-2.
Abstract
The MMPI-2 is the most frequently used psychological screening measure for candidate admission into law enforcement training academies. Prior to enrollment in a State police trooper academy, 95 applicants were administered the MMPI-2, which was then scored by computer. Of these 95 applicants, 72 successfully completed academy training. The MMPI-2 scores from both the successful and the unsuccessful cadets were analyzed for significant individual correlations between the MMPI-2 subscales and final grade point averages; significant multiple correlations between a combination of MMPI-subscales and the final grade point average using stepwise multiple linear regression; significant differences between successful and unsuccessful cadets on MMPI-2 subscales using students' standard unpaired t-test; and logistic regression was used to ascertain whether there was a combination of MMPI-2 subscales significantly effective at correctly classifying cadets as either successful or unsuccessful at the academy. Findings show that Hy3 and Sc4 scores produced significant negative correlation's with academy final grade point average. Students' unpaired t-tests between successful and unsuccessful cadets showed differences between the groups for several MMPI-2 subscales, including, but not limited to, K, MA, and SI. Logistic regression revealed no single subscale or combination of subscales that significantly predicted classification of the cadets as either successful or unsuccessful based on their MMPI-2 scores alone. 2 tables and 7 references