The Inwald Personality Inventory (IPI) is a 310 question "true-false" inventory designed to identify a variety of personality and behavioral characteristics. It is primarily used to screen applicants for high-risk positions such as police candidates. This assessment, or test, was developed in response to the requirements of the public safety/law enforcement selection process.
History and Use
The IPI was developed by Dr. Robin Inwald and was first published in 1980 by Hilson Research, Inc. In March 2007, the assessments of Hilson Research were acquired by IPAT's Public Safety and Security Division. The IPI is copyrighted and trademarked. Clinicians must pay a fee each time it is administered.
Twenty-five clinical scales and one validity scale, Guardedness, is used in the assessment. The clinical scales are Rigid Type, Alcohol, Drugs, Substance Abuse Driving Violations, Job Difficulties, Trouble with the Law and Society, Antisocial Attitudes, Hyperactivity, Absence Abuse, Illness Concerns, Treatment Programs, Anxiety, Type "A", Phobic Personality, Lack of Assertiveness, Obsessive Personality, Depression, Loner Type, Interpersonal Difficulties, Family Conflicts, Sexual Concerns, Spouse/Mate Concerns, Undue Suspiciousness, Unusual Experiences/Thoughts.
The IPI was developed from over 2,500 pre-employment interviews with public safety officer candidates. The items were designed to detect stress reactions in the context of law enforcement as well as deviant behavior patterns.
The IPI was developed in part to counter the use of psychopathology tests (such as the MMPI) for use as public safety selection tests.