Final answer:
It is false to ignore average scores on clinical scales in profile interpretation, as every score can provide insights, especially when percentiles are used to compare an individual's score with a larger population.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is false that a score on any clinical scale that is average in a clinical setting should be ignored in profile interpretation simply because these scores are commonly seen in such settings. Every score can provide valuable information. For example, in a clinical population, an average score may indicate a lack of certain pathological features that are common in that setting, or it could suggest areas of relative strength and functioning. Careful interpretation must consider both high and low scores, as well as those that fall within the average range.
Percentiles are a useful tool in such interpretations because they offer a way to understand how an individual's score compares to a larger population. If a score were at the 90th percentile, it would mean that 90 percent of the test scores are less than this score. Removing one specific data value from the percentile calculation is not significant, especially with large populations, so the overall interpretation remains robust.