ABSTRACT
If these different translations had been established as parallel forms, they could be used interchangeably in research without negative consequence. Lacking this demonstration, however, maximally cumulative research would entail use of a single version. To date, unfortunately, investigators or teams have carried out research on their versions without comparing results across versions or investigating the translations' relationship to the English original. Consequently, personality research within Japan with the MMPI has remained fragmented, and cross-cultural personality study has not been advanced. For clinical use as well as for research, it is desirable to consolidate the existing versions into a single form. Abe (1979) states that the MMPI is rarely used by Japanese psychiatrists, but it is possible that good research on a standard version would make the test more attractive and useful to practicing clinicians.
