Thesis
Factor structure of the Miranda Rights Comprehension Instruments-II
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Oct 2008
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-2927
Abstract
A waiver of Miranda rights is valid only if a suspect provides it knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. The Instruments for Assessing Understanding and Appreciation of Rights were created with the goal of assessing individuals' basic understanding of the Miranda rights (i.e., the knowing prong) and their appreciation of waiving those rights (i.e., the intelligent prong). The revised instruments, the Miranda Rights Comprehension Instruments-II, maintain that goal. It has been hypothesized that the component instruments load on two factors that comprise the knowing and intelligent requirements. The two-factor structure has been partially supported by product-moment correlations; however, a direct statistical analysis of the hypothetical structure has not been completed. The current study examined the factor structure of the MRCI-II. It was hypothesized that a two-factor model would provide the best fit, with the CMR-II, CMR-R-II and CMV-II loading on a factor constituting the understanding requirement and the FRI loading on a separate factor constituting the appreciation requirement. Data were collected from 183 adolescent boys and girls in pre- and post-adjudication facilities in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The MRCI-II, verbal sections of the WIAT and WASI, and Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale -2 were administered to participants. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor model with the CMR-II and CMR-R-II loading on Factor 1, the FRI loading on Factor 2, and the CMV-II loading on Factors 1 and 2. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated the two-factor model provided a good fit to the data, as did a one-factor model, whereas a three-factor model provided a poor fit.
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Details
- Title
- Factor structure of the Miranda Rights Comprehension Instruments-II
- Creators
- Heather Zelle - DU
- Contributors
- Naomi E. Goldstein (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 2927; 991014632596904721