Methods and Sources of Assessment Information 2

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of interviews?

Answer 1

To gather back-ground information relevant to the client’s current problems.

Question 2

When interviews are used in the assessment process?

Answer 2

Usually the 1st step before other assessment methods are used

Question 3

How obtaining background information from interview helps counsellor?

Answer 3

helps counselors:
o understand the context for the client’s current concerns
o determine the longevity of problems and symptoms
o tailor plans for interventions to the client’s specific context

Question 4

What are the feature of interviews?

Answer 4

• Serve as the basis for selecting other instruments in the assessment process
• Are continuous throughout the assessment process
• Provide a context within which to interpret the results from future assessment methods

Question 5

How important is the initial interview?

Answer 5

considered the cornerstone of assessment—without interview data, there is no context in which to interpret results from other assessment methods.

Question 6

What are the Types of Interviews?

Answer 6

o structured
o semi-structured
o unstructured

Question 7

What is the Degrees of Structure in Interviews? And how it is determined?

Answer 7

Interviews can have little structure, allowing counselors to freely drift from one topic to the next, or they can be highly structured and goal oriented.

The degree of structure depends on:

• the purpose of the interview, the population (e.g., child or adult)
• the setting (e.g., school, research institute, outpatient counseling center, psychiatric hospital, etc.)
• the skill of the counselor (e.g., ability to relate data to a decision tree for the diagnostic process).

Question 8

What is a Structured Interview?

Answer 8

a formal assessment procedure, consist of specific questions formulate ahead of time, which the counselor has to adhere to

Question 9

How you can describe Structured Interview in comparison with other type of interview?

Answer 9

Structured interviews are the most rigorous and the least flexible interview format.

Question 10

What are the benefits to structured interviews?

Answer 10

They ensure that specific information will be collected from all interviewees.

They do not require as much training because all interviewers have a list of questions in a prescribed order.

Because of the standardization, they substantially improve reliability of the assessment process.

Question 11

How counsellor use structured interviews?

Answer 11

counselors are required to ask each client exactly the same questions in the same manner and not deviate from the text.

Question 12

What are the Issues with Structured Interviews?

Answer 12

Because counselors are not allowed to deviate from the text, the use of structured interviews is often criticized for potentially damaging rapport with a client and preventing the therapeutic alliance between counselor and client from being established

Counselors in clinical settings may see structured interviews as impractical because of time constraints

Question 13

What are Semi-structured Interviews?

Answer 13

Semi-structured interviews are either standardized or non-standardized instruments, and they consist of guidelines and a scripted set of questions to follow, but allow for flexibility in responding to interviewee responses.

Question 14

How structured Interviews and Semi-structured Interviews differ?

Answer 14

Semi-structured have greater reliability and validity than unstructured interviews.

In Semi-structured interviews counselors can deviate from the text, change the wording of Qs, change the order of Qs, and expand on client’s responses

In Semi-structured interviews interviewers are allowed to probe and expand on the interviewee’s responses

Question 15

Why counselors might find structured interviews impractical?

Answer 15

because of the time requirement

Question 16

Why structured interviews are still important

Answer 16

o Why is still important? there is still a need for interview tools that have structure and provide a means for gathering detailed information.

Question 17

Where Unstructured Interviews are commonly used?

Answer 17

Most commonly used in mental health settings

Question 18

What are the features of Unstructured Interviews?

Answer 18

• Great flexibility. Do not rely on a set of specific Qs.
• The counselor can pursue specific areas in more depth which they think are relevant
• However, unstructured interviewing is not an agendaless process
• Questionable regarding reliability and validity
• Every counselor’s interview is different from the other

Question 19

Unstructured interviews have similarities with counseling. What are the similarities?

Answer 19

o Building rapport
o Establishing safety and trust
o Use of effective listening skills (reflective skills, effective questioning)

Question 20

Unstructured interviews differ from counseling. How?

Answer 20

o Primary goal is to obtain relevant client information

o Therapeutic experience secondary to gathering client information

Question 21

The unstructured interview has several advantages to other types of interviews. What are they?

Answer 21

(a) the interviewer is free to pursue important but unanticipated topics
(b) the interviewee has more choice in deciding what to talk about
(c) there is more opportunity for building rapport, which is important to the success of counseling.

Question 22

What are the Common Domains of Unstructured Interviews?

Answer 22

o Identifying Information
Name, address, phone number, age, gender, date of birth, workplace, relationship status, and referral source

o Presenting Problem
The client’s primary problems or concerns

o Family History
Information about the client’s family background, including information about first-degree relatives (parents, siblings), the composition of the family during the client’s childhood and adolescence, and the quality of relationships with family members both past and present

o Relationship History
The client’s current living situation, current and previous marital/ nonmarital relationships, children, and social support

o Developmental History
Significant developmental events that may influence current problems or circumstances

o Educational History
Schools attended, educational level attained, and any professional, technical, and/or vocational training

o Employment History
Current employment status, length of tenure on past jobs, military service (rank and duties), job performance, job losses, leaves of absence, and occupational injuries

o Medical History
Previous and current medical problems (major illnesses and injuries), medications, hospitalizations, and disabilities

o Previous Psychiatric or Counseling Experiences
Previous psychiatric or counseling services in inpatient or outpatient settings, and any psychiatric medications

Question 23

What are the PROPERTIES of each interview type?

Answer 23

Unstructured interviews:
Very flexible
Informal
Interviewer may follow a general format
Widely-used

Semi-structured interviews:
Somewhat flexible
Not completely standardized
Interviewers may prove and expand interviewee responses

Structured interviews:
Less flexible
Formal
No deviation in procedure
Often used in research settings

Question 24

What is the Guidelines for Interviews? First 4 steps

Answer 24

1. Have a clear idea of why the individual is being interviewed. The kinds of questions asked depend on the types of decisions to be made after the interview.
2. Be concerned about the physical setting or environment for the interview.
   o Interviews will go better if the environment is quiet and comfortable. If the room is noisy or has poor lighting, it may detract from the quality of the information gained.
3. Begin the interview by introducing yourself and indicating the seating arrangement you prefer.
   o Seating should be arranged so that the interviewer and the interviewee are appropriately spaced with no physical barriers (such as desks) between seats.
4. Explain the purpose of the interview and how the session will proceed. Explain how the interview information will be used.

Question 25

What is the Guidelines for Interviews? last 4 steps

Answer 25

5. Describe the confidential nature of interview and the limits of confidentiality. In addition, explain that the client has the right not to discuss any information he or she does not wish to disclose.
   o If conducting a standardized semistructured or a structured interview, abide by the published administration procedures.
6. Begin with open-ended questions and use more direct (closed) questions to fill in gaps. Avoid “why” questions because they may increase interviewee defensiveness.
7. Be alert to the nonverbal as well as verbal behavior of the interviewee. How a person says something may be as important as what is said.
8. Observe and follow time restraints. Alert the interviewee when 5 or 10 minutes remain until the end of the interview. Provide interviewee’s an opportunity to ask any questions or make comments.