This article was downloaded by: [New York University] On: 23 April 2015, At: 08:07 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
Journal of Personality Assessment Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/hjpa20
The Interpretative Validity of the FAM: Long-Term Psychotherapists' Ratings of Psychiatric Inpatients Thomas R. Faschingbauer , Dale T. Johnson & Charles S. Newmark Published online: 10 Jun 2010.
To cite this article: Thomas R. Faschingbauer , Dale T. Johnson & Charles S. Newmark (1978) The Interpretative Validity of the FAM: Long-Term Psychotherapists' Ratings of Psychiatric Inpatients, Journal of Personality Assessment, 42:1, 74-75, DOI: 10.1207/s15327752jpa4201_10 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4201_10
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
Journal of Personality Assessment, 1978,42. 1
The Interpretative Validity of the FAM: Long-Term Psychotherapists' Ratings of Psychiatric Inpatients
Downloaded by [New York University] at 08:07 23 April 2015
THOMAS R. FASCHINGBAUER and DALE T. JOHNSON Highland Hospital Division, Duke University Medical Center and CHARLES S. NEWMARK University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Summary: Newmark, Conger, and Faschingbauer (1976) found a significant difference between mean ratings of MMPI and FAM (Faschingbauer's Abbreviated MMPI) based interpretations. Since this may have been specific to lack of rater experience, the present study attempted a replication using long-term psychotherapists as raters. The only significant difference was for 20 male psychiatric inpatients. Females ( n = 16) and the pooled sample showed no significant differences between ratings regardless of the source test. When the present results are compared to those of Newmark, Conger and Faschingbauer (1976) and earlier work by Faschingbauer (1973), it appears that the FAM vields interoretations as accurate as one would expect given its psychometric dissimilarity from the MMPI
Comparisons of scale means, standard deviations, and correlations have repeatedly been shown to be poor predictors of a short MMPI's ability to accurately diagnose psychiatric inpatients. Consequently, Newmark, Conger, and Faschingbauer (1 976) had residents rate MMPI and FAM (Faschingbauer's Abbreviated MMPI) interpretations for 86 psychiatric inpatients without knowledge of the source test. Although no significant differences were found for either sex, the MMPI-based reports were rated as significantly *more accurate (t = 2.66, p < .05) over the entire sample. These results may have been specific either to the inexperience of the raters, who were in training and generally had only brief contact with the patients, or to Dr. Newmark's interpretations. Method Randomly selected MMPI answer sheets for 20 male and 16 female psychiatric inpatients at Highland Hospital (average hospitalization = 3 months) were scored for the FAM items. Profiles based on both the short and full scale scores were interpreted by the senior author. Reprints may be obtained from Thomas R . Faschmgbauer who is now at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, P.O. Box 20708, Houston, Texas 7702 5.
Staff psychiatrists (n = 7), well acquainted with their patients, then rated the paired interpretations of each patient for accuracy using the same 5-point scale as did Newmark et al., (1976) (i.e., 1 = totally inaccurate -- 5 = totally accurate). Whenever both interpretations for a patient were equally rated, the psychiatrist was instructed to mark one of them as qualitatively superior. Both the interpretations and ratings were performed without knowledge of whether the source test was the MMPI or the FAM. Results and Conclusion Students' t for independent means was significantly high only for the males (M = 3.60 for the MMPI and 3.00 for the FAM; t = 4.00; p < .001). For females the FA, based interpretations were actually rated nonsignificantly higher than those for the MMPI (M = 3.06 for the MMPI and 3.50 for the FAM). The pooled mean ratings of 3.36 for the MMPI and 3.22 for the FAM were also nonsignificantly different. Compared with the results of Newmark et al. (1976), the present interpretations were consistently rated more than one category lower (M = 3.36 versus 4.5 1 for MMPI and 3.22 versus 4.33 for FAM). This may reflect differences in interpretative skill, the raters' knowledge of their
Downloaded by [New York University] at 08:07 23 April 2015
T. R. FASCHINGBAUER, D. T. JOHNSON, a n d C. S. NEWMARK patients, or both. Similarly, more pairs of interpretations were rated as equal by the residents in the Newmark et al., study (55% versus the present study's 40%). The percentage of ties where the MMPI interpretation was selected as somehow superior, however, was similar across the studies (68% versus 64% presently). Finally, the mean differences between the FAM and MMPI ratings were similar in both studies (.I8 for Newmark et al., 1976 versus .14 for the present study). One would expect that interpretations based on comparison of several scales would be affected by any changes in the scale intercorrelation matrix. In his original study Faschingbauer (1973) found median differences ranging from .13 to .16 between MMPI and FAM intercorrelation matrices. The present results suggest that the FAM is functioning as well as it might be expected to in
75
clinical situations, considering the extent of its psychometric dissimilarity to the MMPI . References Faschingbauer, T. R. A short written form of the group MMPl (Doctoral dissertation, University of North Carolina, 1973). Dissertation Abstracts International, 1973, 34, (University Microfilms No. 73 - 16579.) Newmark, C. S., Conger, A. J., & Faschingbauer, T. R., The interpretive validity and effective test length functioning of an abbreviated MMPI relative to the standard MMPI. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1976, 32, 27-32. Thomas R. Faschingbauer Department of Psychiatry University of Texas Medical School at Houston P.O. Box 20708 Houston, Texas 77025 Received: March 14, 1977 Revised: May 26, 1977
Journal of Personality Assessment Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/hjpa20
The Interpretative Validity of the FAM: Long-Term Psychotherapists' Ratings of Psychiatric Inpatients Thomas R. Faschingbauer , Dale T. Johnson & Charles S. Newmark Published online: 10 Jun 2010.
To cite this article: Thomas R. Faschingbauer , Dale T. Johnson & Charles S. Newmark (1978) The Interpretative Validity of the FAM: Long-Term Psychotherapists' Ratings of Psychiatric Inpatients, Journal of Personality Assessment, 42:1, 74-75, DOI: 10.1207/s15327752jpa4201_10 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4201_10
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
Journal of Personality Assessment, 1978,42. 1
The Interpretative Validity of the FAM: Long-Term Psychotherapists' Ratings of Psychiatric Inpatients
Downloaded by [New York University] at 08:07 23 April 2015
THOMAS R. FASCHINGBAUER and DALE T. JOHNSON Highland Hospital Division, Duke University Medical Center and CHARLES S. NEWMARK University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Summary: Newmark, Conger, and Faschingbauer (1976) found a significant difference between mean ratings of MMPI and FAM (Faschingbauer's Abbreviated MMPI) based interpretations. Since this may have been specific to lack of rater experience, the present study attempted a replication using long-term psychotherapists as raters. The only significant difference was for 20 male psychiatric inpatients. Females ( n = 16) and the pooled sample showed no significant differences between ratings regardless of the source test. When the present results are compared to those of Newmark, Conger and Faschingbauer (1976) and earlier work by Faschingbauer (1973), it appears that the FAM vields interoretations as accurate as one would expect given its psychometric dissimilarity from the MMPI
Comparisons of scale means, standard deviations, and correlations have repeatedly been shown to be poor predictors of a short MMPI's ability to accurately diagnose psychiatric inpatients. Consequently, Newmark, Conger, and Faschingbauer (1 976) had residents rate MMPI and FAM (Faschingbauer's Abbreviated MMPI) interpretations for 86 psychiatric inpatients without knowledge of the source test. Although no significant differences were found for either sex, the MMPI-based reports were rated as significantly *more accurate (t = 2.66, p < .05) over the entire sample. These results may have been specific either to the inexperience of the raters, who were in training and generally had only brief contact with the patients, or to Dr. Newmark's interpretations. Method Randomly selected MMPI answer sheets for 20 male and 16 female psychiatric inpatients at Highland Hospital (average hospitalization = 3 months) were scored for the FAM items. Profiles based on both the short and full scale scores were interpreted by the senior author. Reprints may be obtained from Thomas R . Faschmgbauer who is now at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, P.O. Box 20708, Houston, Texas 7702 5.
Staff psychiatrists (n = 7), well acquainted with their patients, then rated the paired interpretations of each patient for accuracy using the same 5-point scale as did Newmark et al., (1976) (i.e., 1 = totally inaccurate -- 5 = totally accurate). Whenever both interpretations for a patient were equally rated, the psychiatrist was instructed to mark one of them as qualitatively superior. Both the interpretations and ratings were performed without knowledge of whether the source test was the MMPI or the FAM. Results and Conclusion Students' t for independent means was significantly high only for the males (M = 3.60 for the MMPI and 3.00 for the FAM; t = 4.00; p < .001). For females the FA, based interpretations were actually rated nonsignificantly higher than those for the MMPI (M = 3.06 for the MMPI and 3.50 for the FAM). The pooled mean ratings of 3.36 for the MMPI and 3.22 for the FAM were also nonsignificantly different. Compared with the results of Newmark et al. (1976), the present interpretations were consistently rated more than one category lower (M = 3.36 versus 4.5 1 for MMPI and 3.22 versus 4.33 for FAM). This may reflect differences in interpretative skill, the raters' knowledge of their
Downloaded by [New York University] at 08:07 23 April 2015
T. R. FASCHINGBAUER, D. T. JOHNSON, a n d C. S. NEWMARK patients, or both. Similarly, more pairs of interpretations were rated as equal by the residents in the Newmark et al., study (55% versus the present study's 40%). The percentage of ties where the MMPI interpretation was selected as somehow superior, however, was similar across the studies (68% versus 64% presently). Finally, the mean differences between the FAM and MMPI ratings were similar in both studies (.I8 for Newmark et al., 1976 versus .14 for the present study). One would expect that interpretations based on comparison of several scales would be affected by any changes in the scale intercorrelation matrix. In his original study Faschingbauer (1973) found median differences ranging from .13 to .16 between MMPI and FAM intercorrelation matrices. The present results suggest that the FAM is functioning as well as it might be expected to in
75
clinical situations, considering the extent of its psychometric dissimilarity to the MMPI . References Faschingbauer, T. R. A short written form of the group MMPl (Doctoral dissertation, University of North Carolina, 1973). Dissertation Abstracts International, 1973, 34, (University Microfilms No. 73 - 16579.) Newmark, C. S., Conger, A. J., & Faschingbauer, T. R., The interpretive validity and effective test length functioning of an abbreviated MMPI relative to the standard MMPI. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1976, 32, 27-32. Thomas R. Faschingbauer Department of Psychiatry University of Texas Medical School at Houston P.O. Box 20708 Houston, Texas 77025 Received: March 14, 1977 Revised: May 26, 1977
