MMPI item subtlety: another look.

This study examined the item subtlety-face validity issue by comparing MMPI Depression scale items rated in terms of psychopathology-in-general vs. specific depression criteria. The study also evaluated the influence of number of definitional descriptors and the meaning attributed to the neutral rating. Results showed substantial correlations among ratings obtained by different procedures, but many differences in subtle-neutral-obvious classifications. Number of descriptors did not effect ratings, although these results might not be found for less familiar constructs. Most raters took "neutral" to mean unrelated. These findings suggest that the inconsistencies in this research area are related to definitional problems and methodological ambiguities.