Exam 2

Question 1

Psychological assessment

Answer 1

= collecting and synthesizing in formation to understand client thoughts and behavior
-Classify their problems
-Develop their intervention plans
-Measure intervention effects
-Conduct research to better understand psychological phenomena

Question 2

What are the steps discussed for Conducting Psychological Assessment?

Answer 2

D- Determine the reason for referral and presenting problem
C- Choose what to assess
S- Select the method of assessment
G- Gather the assessment data
C- Consider the data and draw conclusions
C- Convey the conclusions to appropriate parties

Question 3

Antecedence

Answer 3

Ex: behavior + consequences to behavior
-teacher busts shane + praise by
-Is he seeking peer approval or is he reacting to the teacher’s behavior

Question 4

Reason for referral

Answer 4

= a description in the psychological assessment of why the psychologist’s services are being sought
-(e.g., Why is a particular child earning poor grades?).
-presenting problem initiates assessment

Question 5

Presenting problem

Answer 5

=The concerns and problems that lead a client to treatment.

Question 6

D- Determine the reason for referral and presenting problem

Answer 6

○ Client provides reason for referral to clinician
+
* Presenting problem initiates assessment
-What needs evaluation
-Assessment instruments to use
-Goals of assessment

Question 7

C- Choose what to assess

Answer 7

• Guided by:
  § Goals in the referral
  □ What the intention is
  § Understanding of the presenting problem
  □ What is going on
  § Professional psychologists must make accurate judgments of these
  □ A lot of things one could assess, which are necessary

Question 8

S- Select the method of assessment

Answer 8

• After deciding client characteristics to assess, psychologists decide methods, instruments to use:

§ Instrument to address presenting problem in referral
§ Logistical concerns addressed (time taken, etc.)
§ Accuracy of results instruments provide through
§ Psychometric evaluation
§ Evidence-based assessment:
§ Reliability, validity, and standardization of methods considered

Question 9

G- Gather the assessment data

Answer 9

• Client’s (parent or guardian’s) informed consent obtained upon instrument selection
• Assessment data collected by 3 primary methods, and sometimes historical records
  § Administer a test
  § Conduct an interview
  § Observe
• Often use a multimethod assessment

Question 10

C- Consider the data and draw conclusions

Answer 10

• Scoring and interpretation of assessments after their administration; simple to complicated
• Integration of data from different sources takes place
• Few evidence-based rules exist
• Psychologists rely on their judgement when drawing conclusions
• As a general rule, the larger the leap from test responses to conclusions, the more vulnerable to error the clinical becomes

Question 11

C- Convey the conclusions to appropriate parties

Answer 11

§ Assessment report generated upon drawing conclusions; report contains
§ Identifying information
§ Reason for referral
§ Background
§ Assessments used (with rationale)
§ Summary of findings
§ Diagnostic impressions
§ Recommendations for addressing questions in referral
§ And it is given to the client, parent, school personnel… via confidential channels… as appropriate

Question 12

What are some common referral sources?

Answer 12

-Client
-Relative
-Another psychologist
-School
-Physician
-Lawyer/court order
-Employer

Question 13

Is every psychologist trained to treat every presenting problem?

Question 14

Psychometric evaluation:

Answer 14

A process in which the developer subjects assessment instruments to rigorous statistical analyses to determine whether they meet certain standards.

Question 15

Evidence-based assessment:

Answer 15

When psychologists choose assessment instruments on the basis of demonstrated reliability, validity, and standardization

Question 16

Assessment report:

Answer 16

It contains test results, interpretations, and conclusions
It includes the reason for referral along with background information and history to set the context for the assessment, a discussion of test scores and conclusions, and recommendations for how to address the questions and concerns raised in the referral.

Question 17

What is the choice of assessment guided by?

Answer 17

§ Goals in the referral
□ What the intention is
§ Understanding of the presenting problem
□ What is going on
§ Professional psychologists must make accurate judgments of these
□ A lot of things one could assess, which are necessary

Question 18

What are characteristics in clients a Psychologist might choose to assess?

Answer 18

-Demographics
-Mental status
-History of the problem
-Social history and functioning
-Medical history
-Developmental history
-Family history
-Intellectual functioning
-Occupational functioning
-Hobbies and interests
-Substance use
-Sexual functioning
-Personality
-Behavioral/Psychological symptoms
-History of trauma or other environmental stressors
-Self-assessment
-Legal history and history of violence

Question 19

Why is it important to have a psychometric evaluation of an assessment? And why is it important that assessments are evidence-based?

Question 20

Reliability=

Answer 20

the consistency with which test measures variables (anxiety, intelligence, extraversion, etx.)

-Test-retest reliability
-Interrater reliability
-Internal consistency