Final answer:
To determine if a scale score denotes clinical concerns, the interpreter should compare the score against a norm-referenced comparison group. This reference helps to assess if the score falls outside the normal range and to detect potential clinical issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine whether a scale score reflects a level of problems likely to be of clinical significance, the interpreter should use a norm-referenced comparison group. This group would consist of individuals who are similar demographically and have been previously assessed to establish a range of scores that reflect typical or average responses. By comparing an individual's scale score against this normative dataset, the interpreter can determine whether the score falls within the normal range or indicates potential clinical concerns. In the context of psychological assessments, reliability scales and validity scales, such as the Lie Scale, are used alongside clinical scales to enrich the interpretation of the test results.
For example, data measured on a ratio scale with a known zero point allows for comparisons in both magnitude and ratio. This is useful in assessing things like test scores. In the case of psychological testing, scales that include a zero point can enable interpreters to gauge the severity of reported issues. Comparisons to normative data help in evaluating whether a score is significantly different from the expected range.
Comparative studies, like those comparing diet and exercise programs or the efficacies of different educational courses, frequently make use of norm-referenced groups to draw conclusions. Hence, for clinical assessment tools like the MMPI-2-RF, it's imperative to use a relevant comparison group, which reflects the wider population or specific demographic the subject belongs to, for an accurate interpretation of the score's clinical significance.