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Effects of Test-Strategy Coaching on Measures of Competency to Stand Trial

NCJ Number
229204
Journal
Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: July-September 2009 Pages: 179-198
Author(s)
Rachael E. Springman Ph.D.; Brian R. Vandenberg Ph.D.
Date Published
September 2009
Length
20 pages
Annotation
The study examined individuals who are coached to malinger to determine if they can elude detection on measures assessing competency to stand trial.
Abstract
Results indicate that the two malingering groups appeared significantly impaired on overall competency scores in comparison to the control group. Furthermore, the two malingering groups appeared significantly elevated on malingering scale scores in comparison to the control group. No differences were found between the uncoached and coached malingering group on the competency and malingering scale scores. Both malingering scales effectively discriminated between malingerers and honest responders. The current study's findings emphasize the malingering the Evaluation of Competency to Stand Trial-Revised Atypical Presentation Scale (ECST-R ATP Scale) over a measure designed for some other purposes the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Data were collected from 92 undergraduates attending a Midwest public university and recruited from the psychology department subject pool; participants were randomly assigned to groups comprising control (honest responders), uncoached malingerer (feign incompetency without tips), and coached malingerer (feign incompetency with tips). Table, figures, and references