Verbal/performance splits in inmates assessed with the multidimensional aptitude battery

Abstract

A series of tables were created to examine the phenomenon of the overrepresentation of verbal/performance splits among incarcerated felons. Multidimensional Aptitude Battery (MAB; Jackson, 1984) scores were obtained for 1,225 adult male felons referred to a reception and diagnostic center for evaluation. The findings suggest that there is a significant, consistent overrepresentation of verbal/performance splits, with the performance score usually higher, among incarcerated male felons. The data further suggest that this phenomenon is not linked directly to age, reading level, or general level of intelligence.

The construct validity of the multidimensional aptitude battery: A word of caution

“…The fact that these samples were not drawn randomly from the general adult population is not seen to be as serious a problem (as few samples truly are) as the likelihood that the particular samples they did use have a different profile of mental abilities than does the general adult population. Recent research indicates that felons tend to have significantly higher Performance IQs than Verbal IQs (Grace & Sweeney, 1986;Haynes & Bensch, 1981;Henning & Levy, 1967;Jones, Barnett, & McCormack, 1988;Lueger & Cadman, 1982;Manne, Kandel, & Rosenthal, 1962). Results of the only study in which the MAB was administered confirmed that there is "a significant, consistent overrepresentation of verbal/performance splits, with the performance score usually higher, among incarcerated male felons" (Jones et al, 1988, p. 995).…”