exam 2 c 8 Flashcards
Defining An Assessment
Assessment is a multifaceted process that involves a variety of functions to determine an individual’s characteristics, aptitudes, achievements, and personal qualities.
*Assessment can be viewed as an integrative process that combines a variety of information into a meaningful pattern reflecting relevant aspects of an individual.
It never depends on a single measure, nor does it emphasize one dimension at the expense of another.
*For an assessment profile to be meaningful and useful, it must provide a means for understanding the individual from as broad and integrative a perspective as possible.
Listening v Assessing
*Familiarizing yourself with the client’s world and characteristic functioning
*Learning about past events and developmental issues that have been significant
*Studying family history, cultural background, and the current living situation
*Ruling out possible organic causes for psychological symptoms
Assessing the client’s strengths and weaknesses with regard to intellectual, academic, emotional, interpersonal, moral, spiritual, and behavioral functioning
*Checking out risk factors related to substance abuse, suicide, or harm to others
*Learning about the client’s expectations, goals, and aspirations
Standardize Testing
A test is nothing more or less mysterious than an attempt to measure a sample of behavior objectively and consistently.
*Tests are used to match the most capable and well-suited individuals with a particular program, position, or job.
They have value as predictive devices for hypothesizing about a person’s future performance or action.
*They help counselors in their overwhelming task of understanding clients—their characteristic behavior patterns; their strengths, deficiencies, values, aptitudes, and mastered skills; and, most important, their potential and capacity for growth.
Testing Elements
For a test to be useful, it must be a reliable and valid measure of behavior.
*Reliability refers to the consistency or accuracy of a test score
*Validity refers to the extent to which tests actually measure what they purport.
1)The questions and norming procedures of many standardized tests may reflect the language and customs of the white majority;
2)clients from minority groups who historically have experienced barriers to success may not be as motivated to do as well as test takers from the dominant culture;
3)test results used for employment or academic admissions reflect bias when they lead to findings that vary significantly among groups and cultures.
Some Concerns About Testing
Test construction is an imperfect science leading to results not necessarily accurate or useful.
*Despite the growing number of bilingual clients, the research is scant ohowadminister and interpret tests with non-English-speaking populations Testing is often used as an excuse to guide clients in specific directions, often limiting their future vision and potential.
*Tests often reveal hidden and disguised information (one of their functions) and therefore may be construed as an invasion of privacy. They reveal aspects of the self that a client may not wish others to know.
Testing Ability/Intelligence
Intelligence consists of several factors:
1)abstract thinking,
2)problem solving,
3)capacity to acquire knowledge,
4)adjustment to new situations
5)sustaining of abilities in order to achieve desired goals.
Intelligence Tests
Two of the most popular intelligence tests are the Stanford-Binet, probably the most well-known test, and the Wechsler scales, which are the most widely used intelligence tests (Neukrug & Fawcett, 2015).
*The Wechsler tests include specific instruments designed for adults (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale), children (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children), and preschoolers (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence).
Wechsler & Stanford-Binet Tests
Both the Wechsler scales and the Stanford-Binet are examples of individually administered intelligence tests that attempt to measure IQ (intelligence quotient), using subscales that measure various domains related to intelligence.
For example, the Stanford-Binet assesses for verbal and nonverbal problem-solving.
*The Wechsler evaluates five domains, including verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing speed.
*Administering these tests requires special training and often a state license as a psychologist or other mental health professional.
examples of Tests of Aptitude
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT) for admission to college
*Graduate Record Exam (GRE) for entrance to a graduate program.
*The Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
define Tests of Aptitude
*At the level of state employment agencies, aptitude tests such as the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) are used for job placement
* School systems rely on instruments such as the Differential Aptitude Test (DAT) for assessing academic aptitude and educational placement of children.
Achievement Tests
Often called proficiency tests, achievement tests are used to measure learning, acquired capabilities, or developed skills.
*They are widely used and can be adapted to almost any type of task from measuring course content (a typical exam) to administering the road test for a driver’s license.
*Results can be used as diagnostic tools, as demonstrators of accountability
Personality Tests
PERSONALITY INVENTORIES These tests are designed to gather information on an individual’s preferences, attitudes, personality patterns, or problems.
*Results are expressed by comparison with a specific reference group. A concern with personality inventories is the possibility of faking responses, but most instruments of this type have a “lie scale” to detect a tendency to present an overly favorable profile.
Projective type,
which does not use a pencil-and-paper format but is individually administered (usually by a psychologist).
*This type of test requires a client to respond to unstructured stimuli such as an inkblot or an incomplete sentence.
qualified examiner? example of test used?
A qualified examiner then interprets these responses as reflective of underlying personality organization and structure.
*Examples include the Rorschach and the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT).
House-Tree-Person drawing test,
Counselors who work with children sometimes use the House-Tree-Person drawing test, which may reveal how a child feels more accurately than do the child’s spoken words.
