The Comrey Validity Check Scale as a Predictor of Reliable Personality Test Data

Abstract

Usefulness of the Comrey Validity Check scale score as an index of random or indiscriminate responding to the Comrey Personality Scales was evaluated on a sample of 7960 Navy paramedical personnel. Corrected split-half reliability coefficients were employed to assess the internal consistency of item responses, since it was assumed that random responders would provide inconsistent answers to the Comrey items. An examination of personality scale reliabilities at each of eight successively higher Validity Check levels revealed a modest decrease in scale reliability from the lowest to the highest Validity Check level and thus indicated that the Validity Check scale may be of limited value in identifying invalid test data. Normative figures were produced which should assist future investigators to interpret the meaning of high Validity Check scores obtained in a naturalistic setting. It was suggested that the Validity Check scale should be considered as a potential predictor of industrial and educational outcomes and that further research should be aimed at generating scales which can be used to detect invalid records.