The reliability and stability of the Mortimer-Filkins test

• Published in: Journal of studies on alcohol Vol. 53; no. 6; p. 561
• Main Authors: Webb, G R, Redman, S, Hennrikus, D, Sanson-Fisher, R W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.1992
• Subjects: Accidents, Occupational - legislation & jurisprudence; Accidents, Occupational - prevention & control; Adult; Alcohol Drinking - legislation & jurisprudence; Alcohol Drinking - prevention & control; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Alcoholism - diagnosis; Alcoholism - psychology; Automobile Driving - legislation & jurisprudence; Female; Humans; Male; New South Wales; Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results; New South Wales
• ISSN: 0096-882X
• DOI: 10.15288/jsa.1992.53.561

The Mortimer-Filkins test has been used widely as an instrument for detecting problem drinkers among drink-driving offenders. While extensive psychometric testing has been undertaken by the developers of the test, few independent validation studies have been conducted, and few studies have used the Mortimer-Filkins test with general populations. The present study investigated the test-retest and internal-consistency reliability of the instrument, and the stability of problem drinking, as measured by the instrument. The test was administered to moderate and heavy drinkers at an industrial workplace on three occasions. The results indicated that the Mortimer-Filkins test has high test-retest and internal-consistency reliability, and problem drinking, as measured by the test, appears to be a stable characteristic across time.