Exploring the Structure and Internal Consistency of the 33-Item Narrative Roles Questionnaire (NRQ) Administered to Adult Male Mentally Disordered Offenders When Compared to Adult Male Incarcerated Offenders

Research on the 33-item Narrative Roles Questionnaire, using Smallest Space Analysis found it comprises four internally consistent narrative roles (Hero, Professional, Revenger and Victim) when administered to adult male incarcerated offenders. This research explored whether the NRQ could be applied to Mentally Disordered Offenders (MDOs), withstand statistically robust analysis and be developed so that it has practical utility. Data was generated from 70 adult male MDOs, alongside secondary data from two previously published studies with a sample of 191 adult male incarcerated offenders. Findings illustrated that the NRQ could be administered to MDOs, however exploratory factor analysis found that the NRQ was more statistically robust if comprised 32-items. The presence of three of the four original narrative roles (Professional, Revenger and Victim) was supported, whilst a fourth narrative role (Thrill Seeker) was found. The original Hero narrative role was not found and instead captured within both the Professional and Thrill Seeker narrative roles. Furthermore, the presence of core and fluid sub-factor items were also found as was a linear relationship between the four narrative roles, with Axis I offenders more likely to endorse a specific narrative role (Victim) over any other narrative role. Therefore, there is emerging evidence of construct validity for the 32-item NRQ. Through this research a scoring key was developed which can now be used by practitioners to identify an individual’s narrative role(s). However, limitations of the current research are that participants were required to engage in retrospective recall of an identified offence and participants with ‘no formal diagnosis’ could not be confirmed as having a mental disorder. Recommendations for future research are for confirmatory factor analysis to be conducted on the 191 incarcerated offenders’ responses to the NRQ, in addition to further exploring construct validity of the 32- item NRQ.