This study assessed the affects of motivation on malingering by using the Test of Malingered Incompetence (TOMI). One hundred twenty college students were given the TOMI to detect malingering. A 2x2 ANOVA was conducted to determine the effects of honesty and motivation on the TOMI scales, the General and Legal Knowledge scales. Results included the predicted main effects for honesty and motivation, as well as an interaction of these variables on both TOMI scales. These results are consistent with prior research on motivation and demonstrate the TOMI’s utility at detecting highly motivated malingerers, at least in a college student population.

A Thesis submitted to the Graduate School Valdosta State University MASTERS OF SCIENCE in Clinical/ Counseling Psychology in the Department of Psychology of the College of Education July 2007