Disconfirmation of the predictive validity of the self-appraisal questionnaire in a sample of high-risk drug offenders

The psychometric properties of the Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ) are assessed in a sample of drug dealing offenders. Findings indicate the SAQ demonstrated adequate concurrent validity; however, the SAQ fails to predict recidivism. Furthermore, SAQ total scores exhibit high levels of reliability, yet half of the SAQ subscales exhibit substandard levels of reliability and all but one of the subscales are multidimensional. A comparative analysis reveals that two measures already commonly available to criminal agencies, age and number of prior arrests, predict recidivism more effectively than the SAQ.