FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-08/13

Title and Subtitle: Screening Air Traffic Control Specialists for Psychopathology Using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2

Report Date: June 2008

Authors: King RE, Schroeder DJ, Manning CA, Retzlaff PD, Williams CA

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to model and document the use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) as a psychological screening tool for conditionally selected FAA Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCSs).

A sample of 1,014 ATCSs in training voluntarily completed the MMPI-2 as part of a research program. Those data are used to estimate the number of future candidates that will be referred for follow-up psychological evaluations, given varying MMPI-2 scale cut-scores.

At the individual scale level, Scale 1 (Hypochodriasis) had the lowest percentage of subjects identified across all cut scores, while Scale 9 (Hypomania) had the highest. Looking at participants with one or more scales above the cut-scores, about 15% had one or more scales at or above 65T, but only about 2% had one or more scales at or above 80T. A final algorithm of 70T or above on scales 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8, as well as 75T on scale 9, was selected. The identification rates are discussed in terms of impact on follow-up psychological evaluation referral. Initial cut scores are recommended.

Key Words: Personnel Screening, Personnel Selection, Psychological Testing

No. of Pages: 16