NCJ Number
127242
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 16 Issue: 1/2 Dated: (1990) Pages: 107-121
Date Published
1990
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article describes the development of the Psicologico Texto (PT), a personality survey specifically designed for the Spanish-literate offender.
Abstract
Until the development of the PT, the only test with scales relevant to the assessment of the Spanish-literate inmate were translations of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The Spanish translation of this test has been criticized. The PT used 15 years of experience in the development and use of a psychological test designed for English-literate offenders, the Carlson Psychological Survey (CPS). Although the CPS was used as the starting point for developing the PT, the PT is a new instrument instead of a translation of the CPS. The PT emerged through a number of revisions based on individual interviews with Spanish-literate inmates as they read the test items. Virtually all of the Spanish-literate inmates were able to read and understand the final version of the PT. PT items are presented in a multiple-choice format. The four PT content scales pertain to chemical abuse, emotional disturbance, antisocial tendencies, and self-depreciation. A validity scale measures the degree to which the person maintains an acceptable test-taking attitude. No predictive validity work has yet been done on the PT; this will be a lengthy process. PT appears so promising, however, that findings are reported after this first phase of development. Examples of interpretations of the PT are provided. 4 figures and 14 references