Program for Psychological Assessment of Law Enforcement Officers: Initial Evaluation

For the initial evaluation of Tennessee's Law Enforcement Candidate Assessment Program, groups of metropolitan and non-metropolitan candidates for police certification were studied and compared with respect to their scores on the MMPI, Kuder Preference Record-Vocational, Form CH, and Otis-Lennon Mental Ability Test-Form J. The mean profiles for each group individually, as well as the profiles for the groups combined, were calculated. The results showed that the non-metropolitan applicants were older and had lower IQ scores than the metropolitan group. Both groups approached the MMPI in a “faking good” manner. These profiles, nevertheless, were relatively flat and hovered around the mean. In terms of interests both groups showed peaks in the social service area with the metropolitan sample scoring somewhat higher than the non-metropolitan group, who also showed a strong interest in outdoor activities. Their other interests appeared to be approximately equal. Although caution is suggested in interpreting the results, the data indicated that, if psychopathology is present in police officers, it will most commonly be manifest as a character disorder as described by the 4-9 or 4-3 MMPI profile code type.

Validation of the Seeking of Noetic Goals Test with Schizophrenic and Normal Ss

The Seeking of Noetic Goals Test (SONG) along with the Shipley Vocabulary Scale, Rotter's I-E Locus of Control Scale, the Purpose-in-Life Test, MMPI, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Kuder Preference Record (Personal Form) were administered to 40 normal male and 40 schizophrenic male Ss. The data indicate that the SONG is positively related to anxiety and depression, and negatively correlated with ego strength and purpose in life.

Contribution of the Rorschach to Description of Personality Structure Defined by Several Objective Tests

A randomly selected sample of 178 male high school juniors were administered the California Test of Mental Maturity, the Kuder Preference Record, the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey and the standard Rorschach. The 4 batteries of scores were analyzed using Horst's method of canonical correlation over several sets of measures. The data yielded four profiles of scores interpreted as those of class leader, introvert, debater, and athlete. In general, the Rorschach did not seem to overlap to a large extent with the three objective tests; however, its profiles were not inconsistent with the other batteries.