EPC Practice Test #1 Flashcards
Seth is a ninth- grade student with a significant emotional disability identifying condition on his Individualized Education Program (IEP). Seth was also diagnosed by a psychiatrist with several clinical disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, combined type (ADHD- C) and anxiety disorder. During the school day, Seth is able to control most of his behaviors, but not all.
Despite Seth’s above-average cognitive abilities, his grades are not commensurate with his abilities; however, he is passing all classes with Cs. Seth’s teachers think he would benefit if he had more self-contained special education classes. What would the psychologist tell his teachers in this situation?
A.Tell his teachers to keep data to track Seth’s progress. The data will be used during his next annual review Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting to change his placement
B.Tell the teachers that Seth’s placement should be in the least-restrictive environment and a more contained placement may not be warranted
C.The special education team should discuss the issue with Seth’s parents and then move him into more supportive classes once parental permission is secured
D.Collaborate with the parents and ask them for their opinion in this situation
B. Tell the teachers that Seth’s placement should be in the least-restrictive environment and a more contained placement may not be warranted
Seth is a ninth- grade student with a significant emotional disability identifying condition on his Individualized Education Program (IEP). Seth was also diagnosed by a psychiatrist with several clinical disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, combined type (ADHD- C) and anxiety disorder. During the school day, Seth is able to control most of his behaviors, but not all.
Seth’s parents are very upset that he is making mostly Cs. Even though Seth is receiving special support services, his cognitive scores suggest that he should be making very high grades. The parents are threatening to file a lawsuit if Seth is not assigned increased direct support to address his needs more thoroughly. What most likely will happen in this situation?
A.The school is providing “reasonable” education supports and does not have to supply all services. Therefore, the lawsuit will likely be unsuccessful
B.The high cost of going to court will most likely force the school district to grant the parents’ wishes
C.The parents and school district know that an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legal document and once a child is receiving special services, he is entitled to receive all services that a special education program offers
D.As stipulated under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the parents will have to go to arbitration before a lawsuit can be filed
A. The school is providing “reasonable” education supports and does not have to supply all services. Therefore, the lawsuit will likely be unsuccessful
A student was referred to a school psychologist due to behavioral disruptions in class. After a series of interventions, the special education team and parents agree that formal assessments should be initiated. The results from the formal cognitive assessment demonstrated that the student has a very large verbal and nonverbal difference between scores, with the nonverbal scores being significantly lower. Other streams of information support the idea that the student has a learning disability, specifically, a nonverbal learning disability.
Question
The parents have difficulty accepting the psychologist’s findings and demand to see the test protocol. The psychologist’s response should be to do which of the following?
A.Show the protocol to the parents and give them a copy of the test scores only if they request it
B.Let the parents examine the protocol, but do not let them have a copy. Refer the parents to your formal evaluation report, which details the results
C.Provide the parents with qualitative information and your reasoning when interpreting the test results. The protocol may be used in your explanation as long as test items are not revealed and the protocol is not copied
D.Reiterate for the parents that the identification of a learning disability is a team decision and multiple pieces of information were used in the determination. After your explanation, supply the parents with all the necessary test scores
C. Provide the parents with qualitative information and your reasoning when interpreting the test results. The protocol may be used in your explanation as long as test items are not revealed and the protocol is not copied
A student was referred to a school psychologist due to behavioral disruptions in class. After a series of interventions, the special education team and parents agree that formal assessments should be initiated. The results from the formal cognitive assessment demonstrated that the student has a very large verbal and nonverbal difference between scores, with the nonverbal scores being significantly lower. Other streams of information support the idea that the student has a learning disability, specifically, a nonverbal learning disability.
After a lengthy explanation about the student’s evaluation, the parents in the previous example are still refuting the test results and want outside (private) testing done. Which of the following statements reflects what is most likely to happen?
A.The parents can have a private assessment done at the school district’s expense if they complete the formal appeals process
B.Parents can have a private assessment completed, but the school district is not obligated to pay for outside testing if the results are congruent with the school’s assessments
C.Private assessments are never paid for by a public school district
D.A judge can order private testing that is paid for by a school district and not consider whether the results are congruent with the school district’s findings
B. Parents can have a private assessment completed, but the school district is not obligated to pay for outside testing if the results are congruent with the school’s assessments
Parents gave signed permission for a special education team to complete a full evaluation on their child. After the initial staffing meeting, the parents’ lawyer demands the team supplies them with copies of all test protocols.
The school psychologist should do which of the following?
A.Because a lawyer is formally requesting the documents, the psychologist should supply all the necessary copies of the requested documents so you are in compliance with the law
B.Collaborate with the parents by stating that all necessary information is in the special education evaluation report and review the Individualized Education Program (IEP) with the parents
C.Collaborate with the parents and review test information with the parents and lawyer, but the psychologist does not have to make copies at this point in the legal process
D.When legal matters initiate, the psychologist should inform the school district’s lawyers and have them speak to the parent’s lawyer before further communication with the parents continues
C. Collaborate with the parents and review test information with the parents and lawyer, but the psychologist does not have to make copies at this point in the legal process
Parents gave signed permission for a special education team to complete a full evaluation on their child. After the initial staffing meeting, the parents’ lawyer demands the team supplies them with copies of all test protocols.
Which specific law or case law requires parental access to records?
A.Individuals With Disabiliies Education Act
B.Rowley v. Hudson Board of Education
C.Brown v. Board of Education
D.Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
D.Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
A seventh-grade female student has a speech impediment and poor social skills. By the second month of school, the student is teased by a group of girls to the point she becomes despondent. Several other students are aware of the teasing but do nothing about the situation. One day, the student writes a detailed note to her teacher that she will kill the teasing students if they do not stop with the bullying.
Question
In this situation, the school psychologist must do which of the following?
A.Determine which students are involved in the situation and conduct a threat assessment
B.Mediate the situation and employ restorative practices with all the students involved
C.Consult with administration for the proper procedure
D.Immediately notify the administration and the parents of the children who have been threatened
D. Immediately notify the administration and the parents of the children who have been threatened
A seventh-grade female student has a speech impediment and poor social skills. By the second month of school, the student is teased by a group of girls to the point she becomes despondent. Several other students are aware of the teasing but do nothing about the situation. One day, the student writes a detailed note to her teacher that she will kill the teasing students if they do not stop with the bullying.
Question
In this scenario, a school psychologist should also do which of the following?
A.Seek to prevent a similar situation by instituting a school-wide antibullying program
B.Use an indirect collaboration consultation model to inform the principal about future interventions and effective supports
C.Conduct a formal school-wide needs survey to improve school climate through tailored interventions and determine the extent of the bullying and harassment problem
D.Perform proactive interventions with identified bullies and intervene with repeat offenders
C. Conduct a formal school-wide needs survey to improve school climate through tailored interventions and determine the extent of the bullying and harassment problem
An experiment examines the impact background music has on learning. Two groups are formed: One group studies with soft classical background music, whereas the other group studies in a quiet area.
Question
The group exposed to background music is called the:
A.Experimental group
B.Independent group
C.Control group
D.Dependent variable
A. Experimental group
An experiment examines the impact background music has on learning. Two groups are formed: One group studies with soft classical background music, whereas the other group studies in a quiet area.
Question
The group not exposed to background music is called the:
A.Experimental group
B.Independent group
C.Control group
D.Dependent variable
C. Control group
An experiment examines the impact background music has on learning. Two groups are formed: One group studies with soft classical background music, whereas the other group studies in a quiet area.
Question
In the experiment, the music is considered the:
A.Experimental variable
B.Manipulation variable
C.Independent variable
D.Dependent variable
C. Independent variable
An upper elementary school student is referred to the special education team for unusual social and egocentric behavior. The school psychologist conducts an observation of the student and interviews the teacher. The inquiry reveals that the young boy has an uncanny ability to remember detailed facts about World War II military planes. Interview information finds that although the child is polite, he has abnormalities in inflection when he speaks, he has few friends, and he has expressive language problems.
Question
Based on the presenting symptoms, the psychologist decided to formally evaluate the student based on which of the following suspected disabilities?
A.Autism spectrum disorder
B.Nonverbal learning disorder
C.Social language disorder
D.Asperger’s syndrome
A. Autism spectrum disorder
An upper elementary school student is referred to the special education team for unusual social and egocentric behavior. The school psychologist conducts an observation of the student and interviews the teacher. The inquiry reveals that the young boy has an uncanny ability to remember detailed facts about World War II military planes. Interview information finds that although the child is polite, he has abnormalities in inflection when he speaks, he has few friends, and he has expressive language problems.
Question
In the previous scenario, the parents have given the school psychologist signed permission to directly support the student. The psychologist decides that social skills training is the best initial approach. Which of the following best reflects social skills training?
A.Self-awareness, positive reinforcement, and social praise
B.Direct instruction, modeling, and coaching
C.Metacognitive training, operant techniques, and language skills development
D.Perspective taking, response cost, and social praise
B. Direct instruction, modeling, and coaching
A school psychologist is conducting a school-wide training on effective teaching methods for the special education staff at a large elementary school. Which one of the following would be considered a valid teaching approach and method to teaching students?
A.Implicit and direct
B.Explicit and systematic
C.Drill and practice
D.Analysis and synthesis
B. Explicit and systematic
An upper elementary school student is referred to the special education team for unusual social and egocentric behavior. The school psychologist conducts an observation of the student and interviews the teacher. The inquiry reveals that the young boy has an uncanny ability to remember detailed facts about World War II military planes. Interview information finds that although the child is polite, he has abnormalities in inflection when he speaks, he has few friends, and he has expressive language problems.
Question
The team feels that the student in this example needs special education services. In making the decision to offer the student special services, the team must demonstrate what critical finding?
A.The child meets the criteria for a disability as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5)
B.Testing results must show a significant deficit within the school environment
C.The child’s difficulty has a significant impact on his social development and/or academic progress
D.A developmental problem that is below the student’s age group must be based on formal and informal measures in a comprehensive evaluation
C. The child’s difficulty has a significant impact on his social development and/or academic progress
Some research suggests that suspensions are not effective at correcting behavior and may be linked to systemic issues, such as social injustice and prejudice. Instead of disciplinary suspensions, what is an effective alternative to suspensions?
A.Restorative practices
B.Equity discipline
C.Time-out
D.Saturday school
A. Restorative practices
Which therapeutic method or therapy works best for selective mutism?
A.Behavior therapy
B.Cognitive therapy
C.Stimulus fading
D.Flooding
C. Stimulus fading
Which of the following statements regarding threat assessment and school violence is not true?
A.There is a general profile of a “school shooter”
B.Most perpetrators of school violence have been bullied in the past
C.Incidents of targeted school violence at school are rarely impulsive
D.Most attackers engaged in behaviors that caused concern in others in the past
A. There is a general profile of a “school shooter”
Diane is a sophomore at a large public high school. At the beginning of the year, Diane felt bullied by Sally. The first-year principal quickly intervened and stopped the bullying. A few months later, Diane reports to the administration that Sally is once again making very aggressive and threatening comments toward her. This time the principal suspends Sally for 2 days and calls Sally’s parents. What is the most important recommendation you have for the principal?
A.Call Diane’s parents to notify them of the situation
B.Make sure both Diane and Sally have mental health support
C.Have Diane talk with the school psychologist or social worker about how to deal effectively with harassment in the future
D.Recommend that Sally and Diane engage in a restorative practice to help prevent future incidences
A. Call Diane’s parents to notify them of the situation
Regarding suspected child abuse cases, all school employees must do which of the following?
A.Always notify the school administration of the suspected abuse
B.Report cases of suspected abuse to police or social services
C.Gather information about an abuse case and immediately contact the police or social services
D.Report abuse cases to the school social worker and collaboratively report abuse cases
B. Report cases of suspected abuse to police or social services
A school psychologist is preparing to conduct a formal evaluation on a student for special education services. As part of the evaluation, the psychologist determines that a processing speed test is appropriate due to academic fluency concerns voiced by the teacher. When is it considered best practice to administer this type of formal cognitive assessment?
A.During the student’s typical school day and when the student is experiencing their normal routine
B.Only test a student if they have not taken any other tests that day
C.Test after you have examined authentic work samples and completed a file review
D.Research has demonstrated that the morning time frame is the most effective time for processing speed tests
A. During the student’s typical school day and when the student is experiencing their normal routine
If a student’s misbehavior increases after the teacher takes away his recess time, this is called:
A.Spontaneous behavior
B.Response cost
C.Negative reinforcement
D.Punishment
C. Negative reinforcement
Which of the following choices is most closely aligned with effective school-wide policies and practices that impact all students?
A.An explicit and effective means to handle student suspensions
B.High standards and rigorous curricula provided to all students
C.Effective special education programs
D.A defined threat assessment process
B. High standards and rigorous curricula provided to all students
A school principal wants to adopt a new but controversial math curriculum. A school psychologist is called in for a consultation. What does the school psychologist tell the school’s principal about best practices in this situation?
A.There will be resistance from some parents, so a meeting should be held with concerned parents
B.Parents need a way to voice their opinions during the adoption phase
C.The school should seek consensus on this issue because parents must agree on such an important topic
D.The school needs to consult with curriculum experts so that parents can make informed decisions
B. Parents need a way to voice their opinions during the adoption phase
A systems-wide practice or policy that is generally endorsed by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is which one of the following?
A.Tracking
B.Threat assessment training
C.Zero tolerance
D.Retention
B. Threat assessment training
A school district wants to spend $10,000 to update its cognitive test library. For one particular test, the technical manual states that the 6-week test–retest reliability coefficient is 0.79. The psychologist also makes a note that the new test was correlated with a well-known test to determine convergent validity. The convergent validity correlation coefficient for the two tests is 0.58. Given the details of this case, the school psychologist can tell the school district which of the following?
A.The new test has acceptable reliability and validity, but the validity is on the lower side of standard convention
B.The new test’s reliability coefficient supports the idea that the test measures what it is designed to measure, but the validity is unacceptable
C.The correlation between the new and old test shows a moderate association and is typically not considered strong enough to recommend using the new test
D.The new test can be used with confidence by the district as long as other measures are used as part of a comprehensive evaluation
C. The correlation between the new and old test shows a moderate association and is typically not considered strong enough to recommend using the new test
An optimal service delivery system is one that is aligned with the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). According to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), which one of the following is not a key component of the Tier-1 level of the MTSS model?
A.Clearly stated learning expectations and goals
B.Explicit and direct instruction
C.Providing specific corrective feedback
D.The use of evidence-based interventions that align to the intensive needs of specific students
D. The use of evidence-based interventions that align to the intensive needs of specific students
A student who has a severe vision impairment is granted a formal waiver that excuses her from taking the state’s annual assessment test. The parents of this student demand that the school accommodate her so that she can take the test. According to the law, what is the school’s responsibility?
A.The school must fulfill the needs of the student so she can complete the standardized state test
B.The school is under no legal obligation since a waiver has been granted, but ethically the school should make the appropriate accommodations and allow the student to take the test
C.The school should keep to its original plan and fully excuse the child from the test
D.The school’s decision to spend resources to accommodate the student depends on whether the student has the specific accommodations written in her Individialized Education Program (IEP)
A. The school must fulfill the needs of the student so she can complete the standardized state test
The Cattell–Horn–Carroll (CHC) theory of intelligence forms the basis for many current cognitive test batteries. According to this theory, which one of the following broad abilities is not part of the CHC model?
A.Fluid reasoning (Gf)
B.Quantitative knowledge (Gq)
C.Short-term memory (Gsm)
D.Simultaneous processing (Gsp)
D. Simultaneous processing (Gsp)
During a structured interview for a Canadian-born student, the psychologist notices that the interviewee is well groomed and has a quick but polite sense of humor. Care must be taken that assessment results are not tainted by what psychologic phenomenon?
A.Halo effect
B.Observer bias
C.Cultural bias
D.The Hawthorne effect
A. Halo effect
A systems-wide practice or policy that is generally endorsed by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is:
A.Tracking
B.Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) training
C.Zero tolerance
D.Retention
B. Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) training
When a preschool child imitates the aggressive behavior of an adult whom he has recently observed in a movie, this behavior is based on which psychologic construct?
A.Modeling
B.Latent aggression
C.Observational learning
D.Behavioral learning
A. Modeling
What memory technique should students utilize to remember a long series of information?
A.Chunking information
B.Key word note-taking using personal technology
C.Immediate multiple rehearsal trials with a 15-minute delayed review
D.Remembered patterns for information
A. Chunking information
The “stay-put” rule is implemented at what time?
A.When due process has started
B.When due process has been completed
C.When a student has been suspended
D.When it has been determined that a behavior was a manifestation of a child’s disability
A. When due process has started
A seventh-grade special education student is having difficulty controlling his behavior and emotional reactions in the classroom. The psychologist is asked to create a formal behavior support plan for the student. Before creating a plan, the psychologist should conduct what type of assessment?
A.Functional behavioral assessment
B.Social–emotional assessment
C.School psychology behavior evaluation
D.Executive function assessment
A. Functional behavioral assessment
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is founded on which of the following principles?
A.Short-term, goal-oriented intervention focused on changing patterns of thinking and behavior
B.A person’s behavior is maintained by consequences
C.Behavior is embedded in a dynamic environment; to change behavior, one must consider the individual’s family, peer relations, and emotional needs
D.Behavior is driven by unconscious drives to ease anxiety and to be accepted unconditionally by peers
A. Short-term, goal-oriented intervention focused on changing patterns of thinking and behavior
A school psychologist is leading a response-to-intervention (RTI) committee and reviewing various types of information. Which two primary types of data are typically collected during an RTI process?
A.Formal and informal data
B.Universal screening and progress monitoring
C.Universal monitoring and progress screening
D.Grades and state standardized testing data
B. Universal screening and progress monitoring
A school psychologist reviews a journal article that describes several studies and experiments. The psychologist is specifically asked to discern the strongest correlation coefficient from the following. Which one depicts the strongest correlation?
A.0.97
B.−0.98
C.0.100
D.−0.250
B. −0.98
When should a school psychologist suggest exploring more information regarding medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to parents?
A.After assessments have been completed and there are indications of ADHD traits
B.School staff should never discuss medication with parents because it falls outside their scope of practice
C.Only after securing a confidential release of information to speak with the student’s pediatrician about the child’s difficulties at school
D.When the student’s difficulties impact their social development
A. After assessments have been completed and there are indications of ADHD traits
When a school psychologist assesses a student for special services, best practice suggests that the psychologist do which of the following?
A.Use at least two valid standardized measures before identifying a disorder or disability
B.Present evaluation data to your special education team before formally identifying a disorder
C.Use both valid formal and informal assessments to base decisions
D.Conduct at least one in-class observation of the student
C. Use both valid formal and informal assessments to base decisions
Aphasia is normally associated with what type of problem?
A.A speech–language disturbance
B.A visual–motor disturbance
C.An inability to write
D.A difficulty with quantitative problem-solving
A. A speech–language disturbance
An administrator consults with a school psychologist about creating a safe and supportive school climate. The psychologist informs the principal that there are some system-wide practices in the school that may be ineffective and related to inequity. Which one of the following concepts or practices are considered a major threat to equity and social justice?
A.Suspension disciplinary practices
B.Special education inclusion practices
C.Indvidualized Education Program
D.Disproportionality
D. Disproportionality
A parent provides a written request that her son must be tested for special education services. After consulting with the teacher, it was discovered that the student has a history of very poor grades and seems to frequently daydream in class. What is the best practice in this situation?
A.Suggest to the parent that Multi-Tiered System of Suppports (MTSS) interventions be implemented and secure more key information before moving ahead with formal testing
B.Immediately start the assessment process because parents who provide written requests for formal assessments have legal rights to testing under Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) law
C.In a collaborative way, inform the parent that preliminary information provided by the teacher indicates attention problems and the parent should also talk with the student’s pediatrician before a school evaluation takes place
D.Inform the parent that a formal evaluation will be completed by the school team, but the law gives schools 60 days to complete the assessment process
A. Suggest to the parent that Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) interventions be implemented and secure more key information before moving ahead with formal testing
Which standardized cognitive assessment is largely based on Luria’s theory and the PASS (planning, attention, simultaneous, successive) model?
A.Differential Ability Scales (DAS)
B.Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)
C.A Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment (NEPSY)
D.Cognitive Assessment System
D. Cognitive Assessment System
Executive function is primarily associated with which of the following?
A.Cognitive planning
B.Nonverbal learning
C.Spatial reasoning
D.Reading
A. Cognitive planning
Typically, nonverbal and novel problem-solving subtests on major cognitive assessments primarily evaluate the functioning of the:
A.Right hemisphere of the brain
B.Left hemisphere of the brain
C.Right and left hemispheres of the brain
D.Cerebrum
A. Right hemisphere of the brain
A second-grade teacher uses the removal of a desirable activity, such as music class, to shape the behavior of the special education students. The teacher does not think other interventions are practical or effective. How should the school psychologist respond?
A.The welfare of the student comes first and the school psychologist has a duty to discuss the situation with the principal
B.It should be explained to the teacher that the method they are using might be working, but will most likely produce short-term results if no positive reward or feedback is used for compliant behavior
C.The teacher’s intervention might be working, but the psychologist should suggest to the teacher that “feedback” is provided to the students when possible
D.Inform the teacher that such interventions usually foster an external motivation instead of an internal motivation in the student
B. It should be explained to the teacher that the method they are using might be working, but will most likely produce short-term results if no positive reward or feedback is used for compliant behavior
A common systems-wide and multitier intervention that is typically employed to support students who are struggling to learn at school is called:
A.Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS)
B.Pre-referral intervention framework
C.School-wide support system (SWSS)
D.Response-to-intervention (RTI)
D. Response-to-intervention (RTI)
According to educational theorists, when fostering intrinsic motivation, you should use:
A.Variable reinforcement
B.Tangible rewards
C.Verbal praise
D.Choice selection
D. Choice selection
A school psychologist is counseling a group of students who have self-esteem problems. The psychologist’s counseling approach embraces the idea that behavior is guided by one’s self-image, subjective perceptions, and the need for growth toward personal goals. This approach to counseling is based on which of the following?
A.Psychodynamic theory
B.Behaviorism
C.Humanistic principles
D.Cognitive behavioral counseling principles
C. Humanistic principles
