1. Nonpatient Sex Differences on the Personality Assessment Screener: A Descriptive Analysis
Trisha M. Kivisalu, M.A., Jennifer L. Harrison, M.A.,
& Thomas W. Shaffer, Ph.D., ABPP
California School of Professional Psychology
Alliant International University, Fresno, CA

2. Outline Introduction to the Personality Assessment Screener (PAS)
Rationale for the Current Study
Methodology
Results & Interpretations
Limitations
Future Directions
Summary & Recommendations

3. About the PAS Description Construction Application
Scoring & Interpretation

4. Description
Screening instrument based on it’s parent instrument – the PAI
Contains items selected from the PAI
Intended to “tap into
constructs most pertinent to a
broad-band assessment of
mental disorder” (p. 42)

5. Construction Contains 22 items organized into 10 different ‘elements’
Uses a 4 point Likert scale for responses
(False/Not at all true, Slightly True, Mainly True, and Very True)

6. Application Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level = 4.4
Developed and standardized for individuals aged 18+
A “brief screening tool of information
relevant to various clinical problems &
useful in targeting areas where follow-up assessments might be needed” (p. 3)

7. Scales

8. Scoring Computer & Hand scoring
Referencing the guide to record P scores

9. Example
Tear off Cover
Transfer circled values/scores into the White spaces
Calculate & Record the total Raw scores
Use the Manual p. 69 Table A2 to find P scores & record
Use the Manual Table A1 p.68 to find PAS Total value

10. Interpretation
P scores is a probability estimate
A P score of 50 is the point where there is a 50% chance that the person manifests some type of clinical difficulty as defined by the PAI
“Any PAS score above 50 indicates that it is more likely than not that the person is experiencing some type of clinically significant problem” (p.7)

11. The current study Purpose: Collection of International Normative data
Conducted as part of graduate research practicum courses at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Fresno, California campus supervised by a Clinical Psychologist with partial Proficiency Certification status (Administration) as deemed by R-PAS.
Graduate students trained in R-PAS administered and scored protocols from adult volunteers in Central California.
Pilot data
This data is preliminary as no graduate students have yet attained Proficiency Certification status.

12. Research Question
To analyze the

13. Methods Analyzed a non-clinical sample of 114 participants.
Participants were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling efforts including: networking, local marketing, and advertising efforts.
All examiners were psychology doctoral students enrolled in an advanced research practicum course at Alliant International University in Fresno, California.
Data for the sample was collected over a period extending from January 2013 to Spring 2014.

14. Results
N = 114 adults
Race ethnicity
Education
Demographics

15. Limitations
Examiners ranged in year of graduate study: from first to fourth year
To address this limitation certain competencies were set to be met prior to involvement with the research project
The range allowed for an enriched peer-to-peer academic learning experience
Examiners ranged in experience with the PAS

16. Future Directions

17. Trisha Kivisalu, M.A & Jennifer H. Lewey, M.A.
Future Directions
Data collection is ongoing through research practica at CSPP at Alliant International University, Fresno, CA
Further analyses will continue to be conducted
For more information contact:
Trisha Kivisalu, M.A & Jennifer H. Lewey, M.A.
California School of Professional Psychology
Alliant International University,
Fresno, California 93727

18. Summary & Recommendations

19. Thank you!
Questions?
An Investigation of Interrater Reliability for the R-PAS in a Non-clinical U.S. Sample
Trisha M. Kivisalu, M.A., Jennifer L. Harrison, M.A.,
Thomas W. Shaffer, Ph.D., ABPP, & Merle Canfield, Ph.D.
California School of Professional Psychology
Alliant International University, Fresno, CA