Utility of a 2AFC measure in identifying persons feigning competence related limitations

Christina C. Donaldson-Guenther
Randy K. Otto

Abstract

Assessing the response style of criminal defendants undergoing evaluation of their competence to proceed (stand trial) is critical because some may be motivated to feign impairments in an attempt to delay prosecution. This study examined the utility of the Inventory of Legal Knowledge (ILK), which employs a Two Alternative Forced Choice Testing approach to identify defendants feigning competence related limitations. That the ILK correctly classified the large majority of psychiatric patients who completed the measure under both "honest" and "fake bad" instructions provides evidence of its potential utility as a response style measure in forensic evaluation contexts.