Chapter 6: Assessment of Teams, Individuals, and Organizations

Question 1

What is an Assessment?

Answer 1

Two-way process whereby MPCs seek information about their clients and clients obtain information about practitioners and how they typically work.

Question 2

According to Taylor, Simpson, and Brutus (2018) what are the 5 purposes for assessments?

Answer 2

1. To understand individuals as athletes (e.g., how they think, feel, and behave in training and competition),
2. To understand athletes as individuals (e.g., their dispositions, values, beliefs, identities)
3. To determine how clients understand themselves (e.g., self-awareness, reflexivity)
4. To determine how clients understand MPCs (e.g., their expertise, counseling philosophy).
5. To determine how clients understand sport and performance psychology (e.g., previous experience, potential value).

Question 3

What is the goal of the MPC in the assessment process?

Answer 3

Getting their clients to tell their story and assess their needs.

Question 4

When using an assessment instrument, what 3 things must be considered?

Answer 4

1. Validity - Does the test measure what it is supposed to test
2. Reliability - Does the test maintain consistency
3. Utility - How practical is that particular test for field work

Question 5

What are the 8 recommendations for starting the interview assessment process as stated by Andersen (2000)? (DONT HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING, JUST UNDESTAND THE GIST)

Answer 5

1. Begin on first-name terms and avoid titles (e.g., “I’m Doctor [Surname]”)
2. Avoid putting clients on the spot from the outset with questions that inadvertently position yourself as an expert (e.g., “What do you know about sport and performance psychology?”)
3. Avoid negative phrasing of questions (e.g., “Why can’t you . . .” or “Don’t you know that . . .”)
4. Outline expectations or rules regarding your work with the client (e.g., “The outcome of this consultation depends on our joint contribution.”)
5. Find an opportunity to establish a collaborative, conspiratorial, or cooperative effort (e.g., “We can work on [goal]. How does that sound?”)
6. Express sentiments clarifying confidentiality and safety (e.g., “Nothing we discuss has to go outside this room.”)
7. Invite clients to share their story (e.g., “I’m interested in your story” or “How did you first . . .”), which will be the center of your focus
8. Convey an absence of an agenda beyond the formation of a working alliance (e.g., “My main focus is getting to know you and helping you achieve your goals.”)

Question 6

What are two popular, well established interview techniques that can be used with new clients?

Answer 6

1. Sport Clinical Intake Protocol (SCIP)
2. Basic-ID Framework

Question 7

What are 3 things to consider before starting the interview process with a new client?

Answer 7

1. Who initiated the conversation (parent, coach, client themselves, etc…)
2. Need to provide a physical and psychological environment that is inviting, comfortable, and safe. (Agenda free or assumptions)
3. Explore and reflect on the information they already have about clients.

Question 8

What is Motivational Interviewing (MI)?

Answer 8

A collaborative, person-centered form of guiding to elicit and strengthen motivation for change.

Question 9

What are the 4 pillars of MI, the RULE acronym?

Answer 9

1. Resist the “rightening” reflex.
2. Understand the client.
3. Listen to the client.
4. Empower the client.

Question 10

What are 2 more acronyms for MI that are important?

Answer 10

DEARS

Develop discrepancies
Express empathy
Amplify ambivalence
Roll with resistance
Support self-efficacy

OARS

Open-ended questions
Affirmations
Reflective listening
Summarizing

Question 11

What is expressing empathy?

Answer 11

The ability to view the world through the eyes of clients and to let them know that you can appreciate their experience (Cuff, Brown, Taylor, & Howard, 2016).

Question 12

What is a questionnaire?

Answer 12

Essentially, questionnaires are instruments consisting of a series of questions for the purpose of gathering information from respondents.

Question 13

What is an observation?

Answer 13

When an MPC observes a client in their natural competition environment (practice or competition). This enables MPCs to gather data in a natural environment. They can see behaviors and relationships in real-time and get insight into how individuals and groups respond to and influence one another.

Question 14

What are 2 systems used to organize assessment data?

Answer 14

1. Multi-Level Classification System for Sport Psychology (MSC-SP)
2. Sport Psychology Delivery Service Heuristic (SPSD)

Question 15

What are the 9 elements of the Multi-Level Classification System for Sport Psychology (MCS-SP) for organizing and conceptualizing assessment data?

Answer 15

1. Contextual performance demands
2. Skill level
3. Situational demands
4. Transitional, developmental, and psychosocial stressors
5. Performance and nonperformance schemas
6. Attentional focus
7. Cognitive processes
8. Affective responses
9. Behavioral responses