Definition and Guiding Principles of Assessment

Question 1

Definition of assessment

Answer 1

a systematic process of arriving at an understanding of the individual’s strengths and limitations in order to make informed decisions about the individual

Question 2

APA Ethics Code and its relation to assessment:

ICRIE

Answer 2

• use of Instruments
• informed Consent
• Release of test data
• Interpretation of results
• Explanation of results

Question 3

Use of Intstruments

Answer 3

• Psychologists should use assessment techniques that are deemed appropriate in the body of research for the population being tested
• Measures should hold adequate psychometric properties (eg validity and reliability) that have been supported in the body of research, if not evaluator needs to describe the strengths and limitations

Question 4

Informed consent

Answer 4

• Use reasonably understandable language
• When court ordered, should clarify procedures and limits to confidentiality
• If not legally capable, guardian or legal representative

Question 5

Release of test data

Answer 5

• You may refrain from releasing raw test data
• You must get release of information before you release data, unless relationship precludes it
• You don’t have to get a release of info when mandated by law

Question 6

Interpretation of results

Answer 6

-When interpreting findings, take into account the purpose of the assessment and personal characteristics of the individual (language, culture, test taking ability)

Question 7

Explanation of results

Answer 7

must provide feedback, unless nature of relationship precludes it

Question 8

Preparing the assessment:

CAR PIG

Answer 8

-Clarify purpose and expectation of assessment
-obtain Assent from the client
Include elements of informed consent, competence, therapist’s rights and responsibilities (i.e., right to discontinue the evaluation at any time)
-state Role as evaluator
-describe the assessment Process
initial meeting, assessment session numbers, and feedback meeting
-obtain Informed consent (from legal guardian if child)
-determine specific Goal of the assessment and identify where (if any) results are to be sent
Only the results that are germane to the referral question are to be sent to the institution. That is to avoid stigma, bias, or misrepresentation of the results.

Question 9

Conducting the Assessment::

DR, DK, GD, I

Answer 9

• Develop a Referral question: a working hypothesis based on referral question (emotional, cognitive, neurological, physiological issues, behavioral)
• Develop the Knowledge to address the referral question: use empirical findings to make clinical judgments, not your own clinical experience
• Gather Data: four Pillars
• Interpret the results/findings:
  conduct feedback, explain findings in understandable terms, and integrate all findings to answer referral question, use confidence intervals and descriptive categories to explain
  The end product of assessment should be a description of the patient’s present level of functioning. Clinicians must make inferences from their test data which support or refute their hypothesis. Given the testing’s goal of gathering a sample of behavior to accurately generalize to a larger body of behavior outside of the testing situation, the examiner should do everything possible to promote accuracy through thorough preparation

Question 10

Gather Data: Four Pillars of assessment (Sattler, 1992/2001)

BONI

Answer 10

• Behavioral observations
• Outside sources
• using Norm-referenced tests that have been standardized with solid psychometric properties
• clinical Interview

Question 11

Behavioral observations

Answer 11

-observations begin in waitin room and continue throughout one’s interactions with the patient

Question 12

important components to behavioral observations

Answer 12

MRS. DEFEATS

• Motor functioning
• Reaction to testing
• Speech
• Distress level
• Effort.motivation
• Frustration tolerance
• Emotion/affect
• capacity for sustained Attention and concentration
• Thought processes
• temporary States

Question 13

Other sources of gathering data

Answer 13

• report cards
• IEP
• previous assessment, standardized testing, psychiatric evaluations

Question 14

Components to psychosocial history during interview

Answer 14

DREAMS

• Developmental milestones
• Relationships with others
• Early childhood behavior
• functioning Across different settings
• Mental/medical history
• Substance use history

Question 15

Components to the clinical interview

Answer 15

-Psychosocial history
-separate interview with child (if applicable)
assess understanding of why being assessed and ask about various areas of life
-assess for recent changes, disruptions, major losses in life
-assess parents’ understanding and developmentally appropriate behaviors, their expectations (too demanding, too late)
-if child, if parents divorced, make separate appointments