Multidimensional Inventory Development, Sex, and Aggression
The MIDSA is an improved variant of its research predecessor, the Multidimensional Assessment of Sex and Aggression (the MASA), which was initially developed as a research instrument to assess important discriminating variables among adult rapists, but it was later expanded to assess critical child molestation issues. The juvenile version focuses specifically on adolescence and has incorporated content directed at uniquely adolescent issues. Although originally created as a paper-and-pencil measure, the inventory has been exclusively a computer-based since Version 3 of the MASA. The various versions of the inventory have been administered to over 12,000 individuals and extensive validity and reliability data have been generated for its scales. Currently, 31 peer-reviewed publications have empirically examined aspects of its reliability and concurrent and construct validity and 15 chapters have reviewed both published and unpublished MIDSA data and have integrated these into the research literature. (see MIDSA publications).
The MIDSA was developed as a treatment planning aid to help mental health and forensic professionals in assessing domains that are relevant to the risk for reoffending and that should consequently be the targets of therapeutic interventions. In addition to gathering a detailed developmental history that includes sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, neglect, exposure to vicarious violence, and caregiver instability, the MIDSA also collects data on the respondents’ social, academic, sexual, and antisocial histories.
The MIDSA also has four validity scales—Positive Image, Negative Emotion Denial, Sex Denial, and Improbability. In its introductory tutorial it tests both the respondent’s ability to read at a 4th grade level and his engagement in the task of answering the inventory queries accurately. The program monitors respondents’ speed of responding, warns them when they are answering questions too quickly, and ultimately informs the test administrator if they persist in answering items more quickly than people can read.
The MIDSA can be administered in its entirety or separate parts can be chosen. After the respondent completes the MIDSA, the test administrator requests a report over the Internet. A confidential, secure clinical report that includes a developmental timeline (if the developmental portion had been administered), tables, text, and scales is then immediately processed and downloaded to the requesting local computer.