Carlson Psychological Survey

The primary intent of the Carlson Psychological Survey (CPS) is for initial assessment and classification of incarcerated male adults and secondarily for non-incarcerated offenders on probation.

The CPS is a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring certain aspects of the personality of adult males incarcerated in correctional centers for purposes of assessment and providing possible psychological help. Moreover, The CPS is designed as "a psychometric instrument intended primarily for individuals accused or convicted of crimes, or otherwise referred for socially deviant behavior."

Scoring The Carlson Psychological Survey

Scoring The CPS has four scales referred to as Chemical Abuse, Thought Disturbance, Antisocial Tendencies, and Self-Deprecation and also an added Validity Scale. The scoring procedure involves summation of the scale values of the alternatives checked (1 to 5) and then transposing these raw scores to the profile sheet provided. The author has provided 18 profile "Types" or score patterns based on multivariate analysis. Predictions are also provided regarding the intrainstitutional security status most appropriate for these subjects, possibility of parole violation, and post-release adjustments.

CPS Reliability

The test-retest reliability values (N=32), with an interval of 2 weeks for the four scales, range from .97 to .92; for the Validity scale, it is .49. Faking studies indicate that the "CPS appears susceptible to faking."

CPS Validity

Correlations between the CPS and MMPI scales and intergroup comparison of scores between correctional officers and offenders, as well as data on offenders from three different prisons, confirm the solidity of this instruments psychometric base.

CPS Norms

The standardization sample consists of 412 adult male subjects, all inmates in an Ontario correctional center.

Population: Criminal offenders.

Score: Five scale scores.

Administration Time: 10 - 20 minutes.

Author: Kenneth A. Carlson

Publisher: Research Psychologists Press, Inc.

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The following terms are closely related to the CPS: classification, incarcerated, male adults, non-incarcerated, offenders, probation, personality, adult males, correctional centers, convicted of crimes, socially deviant behavior, Chemical Abuse, Thought Disturbance, Antisocial Tendencies, Self-Deprecation, Faking, MMPI, prisons, Criminal offenders, Kenneth A. Carlson, and Research Psychologists Press.