Replicated item level factor structure of the MMPI: Racial and sexual differences

Abstract

Item‐level factor studies of the MMPI date back to the work of Comrey (1957). Surprisingly, there are no extant studies of the items that clinicians use most in the course of daily MMPI interpretive reporting, namely, the 399 × 399 matrix that represents all of the items that comprise the traditional clinical and validity scales. Furthermore, there are no prior studies with adequate Ns that have examined the replicability of MMPI factor structure via available factor comparison techniques (Harman, 1976). In this study, 20,000 MMPIs were factored by the principal components method, followed by Varimax rotations of 6 through 25 factors. The coefficient of congruence was used to compare the factor structures of randomly divided subsamples, as well as males vs. females and Blacks vs. Whites. Differences in factor structure were found, and suggestions are made with regard to the significance of these findings in clinical and applied settings.

Interpretation of psychological tests in clinical and forensic evaluations.

“…ality, there have been few studies examining the similarity in factorial structure for various racial and ethnic groups. Bernstein, Teng, Grannemann, and Garbin (1987) used a principal-components analysis with a large sample of Black, Hispanic, Native American, and White respondents and reported an invariant structure across all four groups; however, Beck et al (1989) found different factor structures for Black and White inpatients.…”

Racial differences in adolescent self-report: A comparative validity study using homogeneous MMPI content measures.

“…For example, Bernstein, Teng, Grannemann, and Garbein (1987) observed the principal-component structure of the MMPI across racial groups and found consistent patterns. In contrast, differences in factor structure were obtained across race by Beck and his associates (Beck et al, 1989) in a study that investigated item-level factor structure of the MMPI. Factors replicating poorly across race in the seven-factor solution included Psychoticism, Optimism, and Family Report (occurring only for Whites) as well as Paranoia (which occurred only for African Americans).…”