ABSTRACT
Beginning with a brief description of test construction and development, this chapter examines MMPI relevance for psychological assessment as a unique information source with special attributes. These attributes-trait measurement, psychometric status, and conspicuous role in research and contemporary assessment science-resulted in more consistent and frequent usage over time than other measures of psychopathology or personality. Despite limitations as an emic or imposed etic instrument that potentially affects multicultural populations in the United States and cross-cultural applications internationally, the development, research, and utilization of scales, normative data, and standard interpretation procedures provide a reasonable basis for adaptations to increase applicability to these populations. I follow a review of the controversy concerning the nature of legitimate adaptations for multicultural and international usage by examining test adaptations contributing to a framework for interpretation with an expanded range of assessees. Orientation questions anticipate the extent to which standard interpretation may be credible, and I follow these by interpretation guidelines containing procedural steps.
