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     Starting late in 2000, Dr. LeRoy A. Stone, who is the developer of the PSSPQ, started receiving requests from U.S. citizen individuals to be administered this prediction test and to receive interpreted results from their test items responses.  This test was developed with the hope that it might provide accurate predictions of those who would eventually achieve success/failure regarding governmental adjudication pertaining to the being granted high-level security clearance status.   Although the PSSPQ was initially developed in the late 1980s and 1990s, because of impediments directly caused by the U.S. Government in the late 1980s and because of the then significant decline of interest in matters associated with national security and security clearances in the 1990s, no real attempt to present this test commercially was attempted in the last decade of the 20th Century.  However with the renewed interest in national security (especially since the "9/11" tragedy), the again seen growth of national defense industries, as well as within our Government, increasing numbers of those requiring and being adjudicated for security clearances is clearly seen.

     Dr. Stone had described the development and existence of the PSSPQ in a couple locations within his extensively sized Web Site (i.e., http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/home).  For example, he mentioned in some early volumes of the electronic journal, the Psychology of Espionage Reports (i.e., http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/espionage.html) some research descriptive articles pertaining to the PSSPQ.  He also mentioned the PSSPQ in his Index/Home page on his Web Site (i.e., http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/psspq.html).

     In any event, increasing number of requests from Internet using individuals, all wanting to be administered the PSSPQ have been seen and have been responded to.  [For anyone interested in being administered the PSSPQ and to receive interpreted results, they are urged to see the following Web Page (i.e., http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/individualsales.html).]  During the past couple of years, Dr. Stone has received a number of questions pertaining to the PSSPQ and, in every instance, provided prompt response.  It has been noted that a number of the posed questions bore some similarity to each other.  In other words, they could be regarded as being what is commonly known as "frequently asked questions."  Some of these are shown in the following section, along with the type of generalized answers provided by Dr. Stone.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.  What does it cost to take the PSSPQ and to receive information regarding 
      results?

Answer:  $125.00, all of which must be prepaid (P.O. money order or cashiers check; sorry, no credit cards or personal checks).  When payment is received, a copy of the PSSPQ, an answer sheet, test-taking instructions, and a stamped/addressed return mail envelope will be promptly sent.  Upon return receipt of all these materials, including the completed answer sheet, the test item responses and the instrument's 12 scales will be scored and interpreted.  Interpretation will include standard scores for each of the 12 scales (T scores as well as %tile rank scoring levels), a discriminant function score which when interpreted provides the prediction of success or failure were the involved individual to be adjudicated for high-level security clearance status.  A short narrative interpretation will also be given.

     A couple of inquiries that have been received made comments that the $125.00 fee was too high and why not charge less for the PSSPQ services.  It should be made known that many thousands of man-hours were spent in the designing and initial construction of the PSSPQ and that many more thousands of hours have been devoted to the determination of the instrument's reliability and validity.  All this past devoted time involved no pay or income.  The present $125.00 fee represents an attempt to perhaps receive some positive reinforcement for all of the professional time already devoted to the PSSPQ but without receiving any monetary payment for such.  Based upon a systematic inquiry made upon a number of HR directors and Industrial/Organizational
psychologists, as well as several individuals who had paid to 'take' the PSSPQ and who were satisfied with the testing results, all indicated that they thought the set fee (i.e., $125.00) to be a fair and reasonable one.

     On 1 October 2004, a special money-back-guarantee fee arrangment was put into play, but as a supplement-type arrangment to what has been described in the two previous paragraphs.  The money-back-guarantee fee arrangment requires a somewhat increased fee amount, $200.00 instead of the usual $125.00.  The increase is due to the extra work and complications inolved.  For
a detailed explanation of this new money-back-guarantee fee arrangment, please click on:  http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/moneybackguarantee.html.

2.  How do I know that the PSSPQ testing offer is not some Internet scam
     or trickery and that the $125.00 administration fee would pay for no 
     real or genuine psychometric services?

Answer:  Your 'guarantee' or financial safety is actually that which can be based on Dr. Stone's professional credentials, which may be very easily checked out.  Within his Web Site (i.e., http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/home.html) he has links to the American Psychological Association (of which he became a Member in 1958), the Psychonomic Society (of which he became a Member in 1965), The Sigma Xi, The Research Society (of which he became a Member in 1962), the American Psychology-Law Society (of which he became a Member in 1978), American Board of Professional Psychology/American Board of Forensic Psychology (Diplomate in 1887), and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (Fellow in 1987).  Just about all of these above listed memberships have updated membership directories (most of which are accessible on the Internet); Dr. Stone's memberships in all of the above listed professional organizations are active and current up to the present time.  Also, all of his listed publications, as well as his prior employments, can be easily checked for verification.  No psychologist with the type and level of documented professional credentials, as possessed by Dr. Stone, would be in his right mind to risk his lifetime accomplishments and reputation on some type of illegal scam.  Dr. Stone is bona fide, as his Web Site describes, and his developed psychological test, the PSSPQ, is totally also as described. 

3.  How accurate are the predictions based upon PSSPQ results?

Answer:  In the initial validation research results, the test was found to produce prediction results that achieved an accuracy level no lower than 95%.  In the second validation research (i.e., the cross-validation research), the prediction accuracy was found to be almost just about the same, i.e., about a 95% level.  Further validity research has been accomplished in the 1990s and early 2000 years; these more recently obtained validity findings continue to support the early-on obtained 95% accuracy level claims. Actually, even higher accuracy is achieved when higher or lower scores are encountered.  In fact, no complaints of having been administered and of having been provided with an incorrect prediction have been received since the first bona fide commercial use of the PSSPQ in the latter part of 2000.

4.  Will the U.S. Government pay for me to take the PSSPQ?

Answer:  Quite definitely no!  In fact, in its early developmental years (i.e., in the late 1980s), elements and personnel in the U.S. Government clearly attempted to block the development and existence of the PSSPQ (i.e., see:  http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/governmentdisliketest.html).

5.  Is there any money-back type guarantee given for predictions given based 
     upon results from administration of the PSSPQ? 

Answer:  No.  The major reason for this is that the prediction accuracy of the PSSPQ is heavily based upon the honesty, candidness, truthfulness, etc. of the test-taker.  With this type of arrangement, any type of guarantee offering would be then based, not so much on the test, but rather on the character level of the individual(s) taking the test.

6.  Is it possible to ‘fake’ one’s responses to PSSPQ items? 

Answer:  Of course, one can attempt to ‘fake’ one’s responses, but to do so would be a bit foolish.  Why would an individual be willing to pay $125.00 to take the PSSPQ and to be the only one who would receive it’s results and then attempt to fake or distort the honesty of his response to the test items?  A wise man would not do so; seemingly only a fool, i.e., someone with more money than brains would be expected to behave in such a manner.  Also, more importantly, the PSSPQ has a number of ‘built-in’ ‘tricks, traps, and snares’ to identify anyone who might be prone to do what is known as "faking-good."   One of these detection arrangements (i.e., the LIE Scale) is considered as being one of the very best in existence in the psychometric field of 'personality testing' due to the fact that it’s scores have been observed to be unrelated to measured intelligence.

7.  Will the results from my taking the PSSPQ be shared with anyone else, such 
     as my boss or with the government?

Answer:  Your PSSPQ results should be considered to be completely confidential.  You will be the ONLY one who will sent the results from your testing.  In fact, it is not necessary for Dr. Stone to actually know your name and home address.  However, he will have to know your age and gender.  A number of those who have already taken the PSSPQ did not want Dr. Stone to know their names/addresses.  The only type problem that arises in this type situation is that Dr. Stone must have some kind of address to send the results to.   A number of those who wanted some type of anonymous status only identified themselves solely by their first or given names.  Also it should be noted that Dr. Stone has announced, in his test-taking instructions sheet, that after an individual has taken the PSSPQ and has received his scores and interpretations, then his/her test item response sheet is destroyed.  Believe this (!), Dr. Stone has a great deal more to be interested in than any of your completed PSSPQ answer sheets, following your receipt of your own test scoring interpretations.

8.  Are there any other available tests that claim to do the same type of job as 
     is claimed for the PSSPQ?

Answer:  None at all.  Historically, the many psychologists employed in our Country’s intelligence agency community (including the military services) have, in the past, shown by their actions that they do not welcome the existence of a test such as the PSSPQ.  This same type of regard for PSSPQ type testing is historically seen also for these type agencies’ Offices of Security management.  The PSSPQ apparently came into existence due to Dr. Stone’s unending stubborn efforts as well as having been developed at a very specific time and place in which the Government’s non-cooperative efforts had some temporary weaknesses.  A rather lengthy description of the governmentally caused problems associated with the development of this test can be found at:
http:www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/governmentdisliktest.html.

9.  Can a "passing" (i.e., one that clearly predicts a successful granting of 
     high-level security clearance status) score on the PSSPQ be communicated 
     to a potential employer in some way that can benefit or aid consideration of 
     my job application?

Answer:  YES, of course!  Dr. Stone has recently decided to provide those persons, who have "taken" the PSSPQ and who clearly "passed," an attractive certificate that attests that the named person has taken and obtained a score on the PSSPQ, which strongly predicts that the person will be eventually successful in being granted a high-level security clearance if that person were to be processed for such a status.  This certificate idea was designed to be used to attempt to impress a job recruiter or potential employer.   For persons thinking along these lines, it is suggested that they view:
http:www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/increasesuccesschances.html.

10. I have seen a number of different test manuals and most contain rather 
      complete descriptions of how the reliability and validity of the tests have 
      been determined are described.  Has the reliability and validity of the 
      PSSPQ been determined or otherwise estimated; if it has, where can this 
      information be found?

Answer:  One should never give any credence or support to any test unless the reliability and validity of the test has been adequately estimated/determined using well-recognized psychometric procedures and techniques.  For the PSSPQ, this information is presented in a quite detailed and complete sub-page of the present Web Site; it can be found at:
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/psspqreliabilityvalidity.html.

11. Description of the PSSPQ makes it sound as if it were another example of 
      what is termed as "integrity tests," in that it asks questions about one's 
      past vices, crimes, and misbehaviors.  Is the PSSPQ an integrity test?

Answer:  Yes, in a way the PSSPQ could be regarded as being a somewhat 
special type of integrity test; however, it was constructed for a rather different
purpose than are most of the recently available integrity tests.  Interestingly
enough, Dr. Stone has developed another test, the Probity/Honesty Inventory
(PHI), which was developed for purposes similiar to those for which most 
integrity tests had been designed for.  The PHI's construction was initially based upon use of a goodly number of items from the PSSPQ, however the two
tests have to be considered as being two very different instruments.  More 
about the PHI can be found at:
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/trustworthinesstests.html .

12. I am a citizen of the United Kingdom and am interested in applying for an
      employment position that will require me to be processed for a high level, 
      governmental, security clearance.  I realize that the PSSPQ was developed 
      for predicting whether an individual will or will not be successful when being
      evaluated for high-level security clearance status by the U.S.A. 
      Government.   However, might one have any reason to believe that your 
      PSSPQ test can also be reasonably accurate regarding prediction of British 
      Government granted security clearances.

Answer:  The absolute true answer to your question is simply, I don't know.  What I do know is that I have sold two PSSPQ test administrations to two Canadians and one test administration to someone, such as yourself, in England; all three were interested in predictions from the PSSPQ regarding their chances of receiving security clearance status from their home countries.  In adition to these three, I have also received an inquiryabout taking the PSSPQ from an a gentleman in Australia; however, he never went so far as to actually 'take' the PSSPQ.  As far as whether the PSSPQ, for the first mentioned three persons, was a valid predictive test, all I can say is that one the the Canadians (who was predicted to be a success) informed me later that he was subsequently granted the high-level clearance that he was needing.  The English lady was unfortunately predicted to be nonsuccessful were she to be processed for her hoped-for clearance status and she later informed me that she was, in fact, unsuccessful.  The other Canadian never did inform me as to his clearance adjudication status (i.e. his results from his PSSPQ testing suggested that he should be successful).  From what I have explained in this paragraph, I think I feel reasonably confortambe in saying that it is likely that the PSSPQ is valid in predicting security clearance obtaining status in theUnited Kingdom Commonwealth, but not to the accuracy degree that  occurs when predicting success/failure for USA granted security clearances.

13.  In most of the Internet 'write-ups,' pertaining to the PSSPQ, I see that 
       the PSSPQ tests for the 11 adjudication concerns/matters that are
       presented and addressed in the DCID 1/14.  However, I note that in the
       most recent DCID (which carries the designation of 6/4 and replaced its
       the last 1/14 in 1998) specifies that for the TS-SCI level clearance status,
       that there are 13 (i.e., A through M) adjudication concerns.  Does the 
       PSSPQ not test for the last two (i.e., L and M) concerns?

Amswer:  You are correct in knowing that of the PSSPQ's 12 scales, the first 11 are associated with the 11 adjudication concerns described in the DCID 1/14.
However, it should be noted that the last two focused-on concerns mentioned in the DCID 6/4 (i.e., L and M, which are "Outside Activities" and "Misuse of
Information Technology Systems," respectively) are actually asked about in
the DCID 1/4 listed concerns.  "Ootside Activities," in the DCID 1/14 listing,
was covered by the "Close Relatives and Associates."  "Misuse of Information Technology Systmes," is, at the present time, reasonably covered by item-questions based on the DCID 1/14 earlier focus upon "Undesirable Character Traits," "Record of Law Violations," and "Security Violations." 

     Dr. Stone has no immediate plans for introducing any new PSSPQ items for the more recent DCID 6/4 concern area of "Outside Activities" as it is believed that such an item focus is currently present in the PSSPQ.  Howver, it should be noted that, at the present time, persons who are now being administered te PSSPQ are also additionally being administered six new research items that pertain to the DCID 6/4 focus on "Misuse of Technology Systems."  Well before the DCID replaced the DCID 1/14, security clearance processing (i.e., questionnaires, security interviews, psychological/psychiatric interviews, polygraph interviews, background investigations, etc.) the matters of software copying, 'hacking,' misuse of computer type equipment and information were well focused upon in the information gathering part of the clearance processing.    Dr. Stone recalls very well a number of cases (i.e., in the 1980s and in the 1990s, prior to the adoption of DCID 6/4) involving the denial of granting of clearance status, primarily due to what is now more explicitly focused on in the DCID 6/4.  Based upon the current item research, being carried out with the six experimental items mentioned above, it is highly likely that the current form of the PSSPQ will be improved by a future addition of a couple new items being added to the current number of 72 items.  Such would enlarge the total number of items that clearly focus upon the "Misuse of Technology System" concerns area.

14.  Why isn' the PSSPQ available, for being responded to, over the Internet?  In other words, why must a check or money order be sent to Dr. Stone through the US Mail, instead of a credit card used over the Internet; and why does Dr. Stone have to send me a hard copy of the test and its answer sheet through the mails instead of having me answer it directly using the Internet?

Answer:  The anwer to this question is entirely based on Dr. Stone's belief that anyone responding to PSSPQ type questions should be protected from any unauthorized persons becoming knowledgeable of the responding and having an ability to link such response information to any named (or otherwise identified) person.  Dr. Stone believes that communication, of this kind of information, is best protected by exclusive utilization of the US Postal Service.  At the time of this writing (i.e., 15 June 2004) a TV news story was watched/heard, was seen by Dr. Stone, that told of billions being stolen from those who have been using Internet banking - information on the Internet is simply not safe enough at the present time so as to trust this communication medium for transmission of personal information, such as that represented by response to PSSPQ items.

    For anyone truly interested in the subject material presented in this Web Page, the reader is strongly encouraged to also take a look at the additional following Web Page sections' addresses, that also describe important aspects and matters associated with use of the PSSPQ.  There may be some duplication, but not necessarily so, between the below given links and some of the links given in some of the above paragraphs.

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/psspq.html
(This can be considered to be the PSSPQ index/home page)

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/psspqfaq.html
(This are the "frequently asked questions" that pertain to the PSSPQ)

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/atyourservicepsspq.html
(More valuable information about use of PSSPQ obtained information)

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/howtotakepsspq.html
(This one is especially important as it describes, in detail, the procedure one
must go through in order to purchase an administration [i.e., to ‘take’],
obtain results and interpretation of the PSSPQ)

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/hrandsecdirectors.html
(Describes how the PSSPQ can be used by directors of offices of
human resources and/or security)

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/increasesuccesschances.html
(Describes how a job applicant/candidate can improve his employment
chances with PSSPQ obtained information)

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/individualsales.html
(Describes use/value of the PSSPQ for individuals)

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/onlyonepsspq.html
(Describes how the PSSPQ is the only such prediction instrument in
existence)

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/psspqreliabilityvalidity.html
(Describes the technical psychometric reliability and validity information
regarding the PSSPQ)

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/securityclearancewaiting.html 
(Being administered the PSSPQ and learning its results can be expected
to be a very smart job-hunting decision that can easily lead to increased
chances for job-obtaining success.  To decide to 'take' the PSSPQ can
prove to be a very wise decision indeed!)

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/britishcommonwealth.html
(Describes that the PSSPQ logically, and based upon empirical data
results, can accurately predict success/failure for being granted
high-level security clearance status by some of the more major
British Commonwealth countries)

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/natocountries.html
(Describes that the PSSPQ logically, and based upon some limited
empirical data results, can accurately predict success/failure for being
granted high-level security clearance status by some of the more major
NATO Countries)

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/governmentdisliketest.html
(This presentation desccribes the very interesting history of the
development of the PSSPQ, especially involving the description of how
various U.S. Government agencies [including some military services],
back in the late 1980s, attempted to sabotage or stop any further
development of this testing instrument.  Dr. Stone was issued 'cease
and desist' instructions by his ten employing intelligence agency
regarding any further development of his PSSPQ.)

    Another suggestion for locating additional information pertaining to the PSSPQ is to make use of any of the more major Internet search engines, such as Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc.  At the time of this writing, the Google search engine seems to be the best to employ.  It is suggested that one, using Google, type in "psspq" (italics included).  At the present time, one should obtain about 50+ web site addresses.  Try it!  The Google search engine can be found at:
http://www.google.com/

Thanks for Your Interest and Good Luck!