Praxis Practice Test Deck 6 Flashcards
You are asked to evaluate a new cognitive abilities screening test for your school. In the technical
manual, you notice the full-scale standard score of the new test has a statistical correlation of 0.68
with another well-respected cognitive test. Given these details, you can make which of the
following assumptions?
A. The new test has acceptable reliability
B. The new test has unacceptable reliability
C. The new test shows a moderate effect size
D. The new test shows moderate convergent validity
D. The first two choices are not valid responses to this question because reliability involves the
consistency of scores and performance across time. One method of determining validity is found
by comparing a test to another test that measures the same underlying trait. It is important to
understand the difference between validity and reliability. Foundations of School Psychological
Service Delivery
Brooke is a first-year psychologist practicing in a small public school district. A struggling teacher
asks Brooke for a consultation regarding effective teaching practices. During her consultation,
Brooke should not make which of the following statements to the teacher?
A. Try activating students’ prior knowledge before teaching new concepts
B. Provide corrective feedback to students during frequent practice sessions
C. Give additional homework items when new concepts are introduced
D. Try to place new concepts within the students’ zone of proximal development
C. All of the other choices are valid responses. Choice “C” might be a common practice, but the
research regarding homework is variable and is not the best response given the other choices for
this test question. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools
Student learning develops as targeted skills progress through phases. Which of the following
processes is an accurate depiction of student learning?
A. Acquisition → proficiency → generalization → adaptation
B. Acquisition → practice → generalization → adaptation
C. Acquisition → proficiency → application → adaptation
D. Practice → proficiency → generalization → adaptation
A. The terms practice and application are not valid terms for this question. The previous terms are
found in the other choices and therefore are not valid responses. Direct and Indirect Services for
Children, Families, and Schools
Best practices in pedagogy involve which of the following broad concepts?
A. Explicit and incremental approach to presenting information
B. Explicit and systematic approach to presenting information
C. Repetition and practice of new information
D. Exposure and rehearsal of new concepts
B. This question is difficult to answer because it is specific. Key terms to remember are explicit
and systematic. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools
An effective high school teacher is able to respond to the individualized needs and abilities of all
learners. Other staff observe this teacher to improve their practices. Which of the following
important pedagogy concepts is the teacher using?
A. Small-group instruction
B. Individualized instruction
C. Differentiated instruction
D. Cooperative learning
C. When teachers differentiate instruction, they directly address the individual differences,
abilities, and needs of individual learners. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and
Schools
In addition to student motivation, school climate, and school policies, what is another factor in student success or failure? A. Family involvement B. Socioeconomic status (SES) C. Family dynamics D. Standardized curriculum
A. Although other choices are valid and might be good responses, the best response would be choice “A.” Family involvement and educational support provided by parents can offset factors such as those associated with socioeconomic status (SES). Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools and Foundations of School Psychological Service Delivery
A middle school administrator calls the school psychologist into a conference with a student’s parents at the end of the school year. The student in question has been struggling this year and has failed most classes. On state assessments, the student has scored significantly below the standards for her grade level. The parents are worried about moving their daughter to high school if she does not have the academic skills and she is not adequately prepared. What would be a good recommendation for the school psychologist to make?
A. Administer the Light’s Retention Scale to see if the student qualifies for grade retention
B. Recommend remediation in core subject areas at the high school and allow the student to take a few elective courses
C. Seek additional information to determine whether other factors are involved in the student’s struggles that may necessitate Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) or special education services
D. Recommend summer school to make up for failed courses instead of grade retention
C. Grade retention in general is not an endorsed practice. Although “D” is a good choice, it should
be only given after additional information is gathered on the problem. Systems-Level Services and
Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools
Which of the following choices are not typically associated with schoolwide zero-tolerance
policies?
A. Racial disproportionality
B. An increasing incidence of suspensions and expulsions
C. Elevated dropout rates
D. Behavioral management
D. “D” is an invalid response item. All other choices are correct responses. Remember, the role of
school is to educate students, not punish them harshly. Systems-Level Services and Direct and
Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools
Cooperative learning is an effective teaching method. A chief benefit of cooperative learning is:
A. Students increase their prosocial skills
B. Students increase their own learning by helping others and gain a greater understanding of
individual learning differences
C. Cooperative learning techniques are more time efficient than other teaching methods
D. Cooperative learning increases empathy as well as academic skills
B. “B” is the best choice because it includes both an increase in personal learning and knowledge
of other skills. “A” is also a good choice, but it does not include an increase in academic skills.
Choice “C” is not necessarily accurate because some cooperative lessons are more time intensive
than other methods. Option “D” is a good response, but research related to cooperative learning
does not necessarily focus on increasing empathy. Direct and Indirect Services for Children,
Families, and Schools
Although token economies are effective systems to use in behavioral modification programs, what
is a complaint often stated by teachers regarding these methods?
A. Token economies need relevant reinforcers to work effectively
B. Token economies are generally effective for younger elementary students, not older students
C. Token economies are sometimes cumbersome to implement and maintain
D. Token economies do not maintain the target behavior once withdrawn
C. Token economies are effective in changing behaviors, but busy teachers have difficulty
collecting data and rewarding students immediately after a desired behavior. Token economies are
effective with all ages and are typically not too expensive to employ. If fading is done properly
with a cognitive component, then the target behavior can be maintained after tokens are
withdrawn. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools
A teacher who typically gives students large projects and assignments asks the school psychologist for help with two struggling students. The students are well behaved and do well in other classes, but they have difficulty completing work in her class. The psychologist’s observation and recommendation should include which of the following?
A. A task analysis to recommend where to break larger tasks into smaller steps
B. A time interval observation and recommendation to the school’s Multi-Tiered System of
Support (MTSS) process
C. The psychologist should review academic records first, and then consult with the teacher
D. A narrative observation and recommendation to the school’s response to intervention (RTI) process
A. The keywords in the question are large projects. If students do not have problems in other classes and behavior is not a concern, then it should be suspected that the students have difficulty with long, complicated information or tasks. A task analysis is a critical component that is necessary to know where to break assignments into easier steps. Referral to the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) or response to intervention (RTI) process is generally an involved
process. A full intervention program, such as RTI, may not be appropriate in this situation if a simple fix will suffice. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools and Professional Practices, Practices That Permeate All Aspects of Service Delivery
A second-grade teacher asks you to help with a student named Amy. Amy needs to develop her
reading skills. The teacher stated that Amy is a fluent reader, but her comprehension is below her
peers. Which comprehension reading strategy would you recommend?
A. Lindamood-Bell Reading Intervention
B. Survey, question, read, recite, and review (SQ3R)
C. Wilson Reading Remediation Program
D. Woodcock–Johnson Reading Intervention Program
B. SQ3R stands for survey, question, read, recite, and review. This method asks the reader to
activate his or her prior knowledge of the text and to create questions before reading. The previous
steps increase metacognition and comprehension. Lindamood-Bell and Wilson programs are wellknown reading interventions but are not necessarily focused on reading comprehension as is
SQ3R. Also, psychologists initially recommend specific strategies for particular learning
difficulties rather than comprehensive remediation programs. Direct and Indirect Services for
Children, Families, and Schools
What is an example of an accommodation for a student who struggles with reading?
A. Having the student point to pictures of answers instead of writing answers about an assigned
reading text
B. Having the student take a reading test that is more aligned with his or her level of reading
C. Allowing extra time for the student to read a text during assignments or tests
D. Allowing the student to read books at his or her level of cognitive ability
C. It is important to know the difference between an accommodation and remediation.
Remediation typically changes the task or level of curriculum, whereas accommodation changes
the environment and/or conditions under which the task is completed. However, there is some
debate about the exact nature of these concepts. Allowing for extra time does not change the
academic task to be completed, but rather it accommodates for the time in which it must be
finished. If you allow a student to read a lower level passage, this intervention changes the task
that is required to be completed by other students. Answer “A” might be construed as a writing
intervention, not a reading accommodation. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families,
and Schools
According to cognitive behavioral theorists, learning is supported by mental representations of
new concepts merging with a person’s existing mental concepts. In this example, existing mental
concepts are called:
A. Visualizations
B. Neurocognitive representations
C. Imprints
D. Schemata
D. This answer is straightforward. All other choices are invalid. Direct and Indirect Services for
Children, Families, and Schools and Foundations of School Psychological Service Delivery
When engaged in a professional consultation situation, which of the following personality traits are important elements for success? A. Empathy and trustworthiness B. Expertise and knowledge C. Knowledgeable and professional D. Efficient and respectful
A. Although all the other choices are valid, the best choice would be option “A.” The keywords in the question are “personality traits.” As Carl Rogers states, the ability to develop trust in both counseling and consultation situations is the foundation for success. Choices “B” and “C” are more aligned with skills rather than personality traits. Professional Practices, Practices That Permeate All Aspects of Service Delivery