The detection of faking on neuropsychological tests

Abstract

The present study was a test of several hypotheses derived from a theoretical model of faking behavior and faking detection techniques in neuropsychological assessment. The model proposes that patterns of faking on neuropsychological test batteries can be analyzed in terms of relationships among (a)the sophistication of the subject; (b) the events to which the subject attributes his or her apparent dysfunctions. (c) the symptoms and problems which the subject intends to fake; (d) strategies used in attempting to fake believable deficits without getting caught; and (e) the perceived risks and potential benefits of faking. The model predicts that subjects tend to selectively fake only tests which are perceived as being relevant to the intended symptoms, implying that the results of tests used to detect faking (such as the MMPI) may not correlate with patterns of faking on other tests in the battery. An alternative approach would be to develop measures of faking which are intrinsic to the tests of interest, based upon principles of faking detection. The present experiment tested the selective faking hypothesis and several intrinsic faking detection measures. Sixty-nine neurologically normal undergraduates were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) Honest Normal control: (2) Specific Faking (instructions to fake specific sensory-motor deficits secondary to head trauma: or (3) Global Faking (instructions to fake unspecified symptoms of traumatic brain injury.) A battery of neuropsychological and extrinsic faking detection tests was administered to all subjects; detailed questionnaires and interviews were also administered to the faking groups. The results generally support the faking selectivity hypothesis, confirm limitations in the use of extrinsic faking detectors, and provide initial data on a set of intrinsic measures.