The computer vs the technologist: comparison of psychological reports on normal and elevated MMPI profiles.

Abstract

It has been suggested that the present critical shortage of professional manpower in the area of psychodiagnostic testing and psychological consultation can be considerably reduced by the development and application of computerized test interpretation and report writing systems. The present study contrasted reports on a normal and an elevated profile with those written by a group of psychological technicians and by advanced graduate students in clinical psychology. All reports were rated by advanced graduate students in clinical psychology for style and content using a five-point Likert-style rating scale. (a) Computer reports on both profiles did not differ significantly regarding style from either of those of both groups of report writers, (b) the content of computer reports for the elevated profile was rated significantly higher than the content of individually written reports, (c) on the normal profile the computer report did not differ significantly from the technicians' reports, and (d) graduate students received significantly higher content ratings for their reports on the normal profile.