Chapter 12: informal assessment

Question 1

informal assessment

Answer 1

subjective, mainly “homegrown”

CON: reliability, validity, cross cultural issues often lacking

Question 2

what can informal techniques do

Answer 2

add one more piece of info to total assessment process

be focused to gather specific information

used to gather info quickly

be non-intrusive

usually free or low cost

tend to be easy to administer and interpret

Question 3

observation

Answer 3

event sampling: viewing and assessing behavior WITHOUT regard for time

time sampling: specific amount of time set aside for observation, snapshot

Question 4

rating scale

Answer 4

used to assess a quantity of an attribute being presented to rater

subjective, assessment based on rater’s inner judgement of rater

Question 5

error w rating scales (2)

Answer 5

halo effect: based on overall impression

generosity error: identification with person effects your rating

Question 6

types of rating scales

Answer 6

numerical scales: provide written statement that can be rated high to low on number line

likert type: number of items being rates on same theme, anchored by both numbers and a statement that corresponds to number

semantic differential scale: statement+ 1+ pairs of words that reflect opposing traits

rank order scales: provide a series of statements in which respondent can rank order based on his or her prefs

Question 7

classification systems

Answer 7

provide info about whether an ind does(nt) have certain traits or characteristics

Question 8

behavior checklist

Answer 8

allows individual to identify behaviors that best describe typical or atypical

Question 9

feeling word checklists

Answer 9

individuals check feeling words on list to identify which they had/currently experiencing/hope to feel

Question 10

environmental assessment

Answer 10

collecting information from home, school, workplace, usually through observation or self reports

more systems/naturalistic

Question 11

direct observation

Answer 11

visit home, classroom, or workplace yourself

Question 12

situational tests

Answer 12

real to life situations the examine how an ind might respond in contrived but natural situation

Question 13

sociometric instruments

Answer 13

maps position of an individual within a group

used to determine dynamics of individuals within group, org, or institution

Question 14

env assessment instruments

Answer 14

CASE-IMS: assesses school environment and climate through self report surveys of parents, students, teachers, principle

Behavior rating inventory of exec function: assesses higher order cognitive functioning of adults

Emotional or Behavior Disorder Scale: identify behavior or emotional problems through observation

Question 15

records and personal documents

Answer 15

help an examiner understand beleifs, values, behaviors of person being assessed

biographical inventories, cumulative records, anecdotal info, autobiographies, journals and diaries, genograms

Question 16

performance based assessment

Answer 16

eval of ind using variety of informal assessment procedures that are often based on real world responsibilities

should be as predictive as standardized testing, might lessen racial differences

Question 17

portfolio

Answer 17

one kind of performance based measure

pulls together items that demonstrate competencies in wide range of areas

Question 18

validity

Answer 18

how well examiner defines what is being assessed

Question 19

reliability

Answer 19

better we define behavior being assessed (validity) more reliable our data

interrater reliability

Question 20

cross cultural fairness

Answer 20

informal procedures often open to bias

misinterpretation, or ignorance

b/c geared towards specific client behaviors, one can pick and choose what to focus on

Question 21

practicality

Answer 21

VERY practical

low cost, free

can be created or obtained in short amount of time

easy to admin

fairly easy to interpret (minus cross cultural bias)