Ch 5: Assessment Overview

Question 1

What is psychological assessment?

Answer 1

• different from everyday which is automatic
• iterative decision-making process where data are systematically collected on a client
• includes multiple sources and perspectives
• addresses a specific goal

Question 2

What is the assessment process?

Answer 2

• many steps

- maintains awareness of and sensitivity to client characteristics throughout process

Question 3

What are some client characteristics to keep in mind?

Answer 3

• age
• gender
• ethnicity
• culture
• sexual orientation
• religious beliefs

Question 4

What is evidence-based assessment?

Answer 4

• uses research and theory to guide decisions on: variables assessed, methods and measures used, manner in which assessment process unfolds
• measures demonstrate solid psychometric properties

Question 5

What is unique about clinical psychologists process?

Answer 5

• one of the only health care professionals that assess to diagnose

Question 6

What competencies are expected at the point of licensure?

Answer 6

• knowledge of individual and cultural characteristics
• demonstrate effective interviewing
• select instruments based on normed data and address limitations
• administer and score instruments following current guidelines and psychometric research
• ## interpret and synthesize results from multiple sources

Question 7

What is assessment-focused assessment used for?

Answer 7

• screening for criteria*
• diagnosis and case formulation
• prognosis
• treatment recommendations*
• educational or custody placement*
• eligibility for benefits*

Question 8

What is intervention-focused assessment used for?

Answer 8

• diagnosis and case formulation
• prognosis
• treatment planning*
• treatment monitoring*
• treatment evaluation*

Question 9

What was diagnosis previously called? What is is called now?

Answer 9

• psychodiagnosis

- case formulation: reflects the full extent of the comprehensive process

Question 10

What are the 5 p’s?

Answer 10

• predisposing factors
• precipitating factors
• perpetuating factors
• protective factors

Question 11

What are predisposing factors?

Answer 11

• already existing characteristics that make someone more likely to develop a mental health issue
• ex. genetics, prenatal exposure, inter-generational trauma

Question 12

What are precipitating factors?

Answer 12

• things that activate or trigger the acute experiencing of a disorder or symptoms
• ex. puberty, environmental disaster, job loss, new school

Question 13

What are perpetuating factors?

Answer 13

• things going on that are causing the experience to be worse or to persist
• ex. parental divorce with court proceedings lasting a long time

Question 14

What are protective factors?

Answer 14

• prevents things from getting worse

- ex. achievement in school, meditation, self-care, strong social support

Question 15

What is sensitivity?

Answer 15

• number of times an event is predicted across cases compared with the total number of times event actually occurs
• how well we detect something that’s truly there

Question 16

What is specificity?

Answer 16

• proportion of true negatives

- how well we can rule out disorders

Question 17

What is a psychological test?

Answer 17

• an evaluative device or procedure in which a sample of an examinee’s behaviour in a specified domain is obtained and subsequently evaluated and scored using a standardized process

Question 18

Why must one be cautious about online tests?

Answer 18

• anyone can make an online test

- some are good, standardized tests however

Question 19

What are the characteristics of testing?

Answer 19

• yields scores on a measure
• requires standard administration and scoring
• can be conducted by a trained technician

Question 20

What are the characteristics of assessment?

Answer 20

• addresses a specific question
• usually has multiple sources of data including standardized testing but also interview
• requires integration and interpretation

Question 21

What are the psychometric qualities of a psychological test?

Answer 21

• standardization
• reliability
• norms
• validity

Question 22

What is standardization?

Answer 22

• consistency across clinicians and testing occasions in the procedure used to administer and score the test
• deviations may invalidate results

Question 23

What is reliability?

Answer 23

• consistency of the test including: internal consistency, test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability
• not always expected to be high

Question 24

What are norms?

Answer 24

• provide basis upon which to decipher meaning of examinee scores
• types of scores: percentiles, standard, age/grade equivalents, cut-offs

Question 25

What is validity?

Answer 25

• evidence that test truly measures what is is supposed to

- content validity, concurrent validity, predictive validity, discriminant validity

Question 26

Why is a normal curve useful?

Answer 26

• norms used to determine severity of someone’s symptoms

- can see if a score is meaningfully deviant

Question 27

What are common referral reasons for children and adolescents?

Answer 27

• cognitive/learning ability
• neurodevelopmental profile
• behavioural dysregulation
• mood/anxiety symptoms
• adjustment/transition difficulties

Question 28

What are the common referral reasons for adults?

Answer 28

• mood/anxiety symptoms
• personality
• parenting capacity
• cognitive/learning ability

Question 29

What are common differences in assessment between children/adolescents and adults?

Answer 29

• different referral reasons
• adults: single informant and self directed, children: multi-informant, and someone else
• with children must take into account developmental considerations

Question 30

When is parental consent needed?

Answer 30

• if 12 or younger

- but want children to know what is going on in general

Question 31

What are some ethical considerations in assessment?

Answer 31

• informed consent (who made referral, who will get copy of report)
• awareness of limits of confidentiality
• responsible caring (selecting appropriate tools)
• interpreting data in context and fairness
• indicate basis for result and sources of data used in assessment

Question 32

What are the limits of confidentiality?

Answer 32

• harm to self
• harm to others
• abuse of child
• subpoenas
• harm from others