Citation

Bothamley SL, Tully RJ. Int. J. Offender Ther. Comp. Criminol. 2018; 62(9): 2669-2686.

Affiliation

Tully Forensic Psychology, Nottingham, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0306624X17734801

PMID

29020817

Abstract

The Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R) is a popular psychometric tool used with multiple populations to assess individual problem solving ability. Problem solving deficits have been implicated within forensic literature, and therefore, assessment of these skills is essential to aid decision making and appraisal of treatment change in forensic populations. This review discusses the extent of the validity and reliability of the SPSI-R within forensic populations, and concludes that while the tool has some valid psychometric properties, further studies using larger forensic samples and being inclusive of more subgroups in forensic contexts are needed to provide reliable group comparison norms. Overall, users of the SPSI-R should be aware of the strengths and limitations of using this tool with a forensic population. Impression management is also a consideration when using the SPSI-R within forensic settings.

Language: en

Keywords

SPSI-R; offenders; problem solving; psychometric testing