Praxis Practice Test Deck 7 Flashcards
What famous landmark case ruled that public schools could not segregate based on race? This law is also known as the anti segregation law. A. Hobson v. Hansen B. Brown v. Board of Education C. Rowley v. Board of Education D. Larry P. v. Riles
B. In the field of educational law, the famous Brown v. Board of Education is one of the most important cases and was responsible for addressing discriminatory practices. All other choices are
also important educational legal cases, but do not directly influence segregation. Foundations of School Psychological Service Delivery
A student was in a car accident and sustained substantial damage to the left temporal lobe, especially to the Broca’s area. Given this information, it is reasonable to assume that the student may have difficulty with which of the following cognitive abilities? A. Spatial reasoning B. Receptive language C. Auditory long-term memory D. Expressive language
D. Language, in general, is largely influenced by the left hemisphere and the temporal lobe of the brain. A specific area in the temporal lobe, called Broca’s area, plays a critical function in expressive language. Professional Practices, Practices That Permeate All Aspects of Service Delivery and Foundations of School Psychological Service Delivery
Neuropsychology is related to school psychology, but the primary focus of a school
neuropsychology assessment is which of the following?
A. Neuropsychology is concerned with brain–behavior relationships
B. Neuropsychology focuses on the neurological aspects of learning
C. Neuropsychology gives practitioners neurological information that can be used to predict student achievement
D. Neuropsychology evaluates a student’s higher level reasoning and problem-solving skills
A. Neuropsychology is concerned with brain–behavior relationships. Although a neuropsychologist can use tests that measure higher level reasoning skills, generally speaking,
neuropsychological instruments evaluate basal neuropsychological processes such as memory,
attention, and processing speed. Full-scale scores from school psychology tests, such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) or Differential Ability Scales (DAS), are very
good at predicting student achievement, while neuropsychologists can pinpoint subtle areas of
neurological difficulties. Professional Practices, Practices That Permeate All Aspects of Service
Delivery and Foundations of School Psychological Service Delivery
As a school psychologist, you have knowledge of basic psychopharmacology and brain chemicals.
Which of the following brain chemicals is thought to be implicated in producing positive moods
and emotions, especially those associated with rewards? Parkinson’s disease and attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are also associated with an imbalance of this neurochemical.
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. Endorphins
D. Cortisol
B. The brain contains several neurochemicals that are usually maintained in a tight balance. Dopamine is a well-known and critical neurochemical that must be in balance for the brain to
function. Several research studies suggest that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and
Parkinson’s disease are related to low levels of dopamine. Direct and Indirect Services for
Children, Families, and Schools
Cognitive-psychology researchers use the term “executive function” to describe a constellation of behaviors or functions necessary for success. School neuropsychologists are most likely to describe the same executive functions, such as initiation, impulse control, organization, and attention, by using which of the following terms? A. Neurocognitive function B. Frontal lobe function C. Global neurocognitive function D. Temporal lobe function
B. The frontal cortex of the brain plays a pivotal role in the regulation and management of
behaviors associated with executive functions. Foundations of School Psychological Service
Delivery
A child who has significant neurological impairments in the right hemisphere of the brain due to a stroke would most likely have which of the following learning problems?
A. Difficulty with memory for previously learned skills
B. Phonological processing problems
C. Reading and spelling difficulties
D. Difficulty with novel problem solving
D. The right hemisphere of the brain is associated with new learning and processing novel
information. The left hemisphere, in general, helps with memory for learned facts, logic, and details. Foundations of School Psychological Service Delivery and Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools
The information-processing model, originally created by cognitive psychologists, helps
practitioners conceptualize how humans think and learn. Which of the following choices best illustrates the cognitive processing model?
A. Attention→ input → processing → long-term storage
B. Attention → decoding → processing → output
C. Attention→ processing → encoding → decoding
D. Attention → encoding → storage → decoding
D. There are more elaborate depictions of the information processing model, but in its simplest form, option “D” best represents this cognitive process. Although the information processing
model is still used by practitioners, some researchers caution that the model is too simplistic. Brain
processes illustrated by computer models are useful, but not entirely accurate. Foundations of School Psychological Service Delivery
A T-score of 64 is considered to be within which range? A. Above average B. Average C. Below average D. Significantly below average
A. The answer is factual and straightforward. Make sure you do not confuse T-scores with standard scores (SSs). If this question asked about an SS of 64, then the answer would be substantially different (e.g., SS = 64 is significantly below average). Professional Practices, Practices That Permeate All Aspects of Service Delivery
Colette, a third-grade student, has a documented history of reading problems. Colette’s family is supportive of her learning, but they struggle financially and had to move twice in the past 2 years. The parents and teachers are worried that Colette will fall further behind in her reading development. In a consultation situation, what should the school psychologist recommend?
A. The psychologist should recommend a special education evaluation based on the Child Find law
B. The psychologist should recommend an after-school tutoring program and connect the family with community support services
C. The psychologist should make a formal recommendation to the school’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) process
D. The psychologist should consult with the student’s team and parents, then formulate a support plan
C. Because the student has a history of reading problems, an intervention should be recommended. Special education might be an option at a later time, but because Colette has moved twice at a young age, it is likely that there is an environmental factor influencing her learning. Choice “D” is valid, but “C” is specific and likely to lead to formal supports for the student. Professional Practices, Practices That Permeate All Aspects of Service Delivery and Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools
You are counseling a second-grade student who is significantly concerned about her father’s recent
unemployment. From Abraham Maslow’s perspective, you could say this student is coping with the aspects found at which level?
A. Love and belonging
B. Safety needs
C. Self-actualization
D. Primary needs
B. Family health and employment stability are aspects of Maslow’s lower level of needs, called
safety needs. Safety needs come after physiological needs, which are the most basic needs. Direct
and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools
Modeling and role playing are key intervention techniques that are used to address various student difficulties. Of the following choices, modeling and role playing are considered important
interventions for which type of problem?
A. Depression
B. Trauma
C. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
D. Social skills deficits
D. Although modeling and role-playing could be useful in all of the choices, it is most likely to be employed with students who need to develop appropriate social skills. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools
You are counseling a regular education high school student who has been caught using his brother’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication. The parent believes her son is distraught because he was denied admission to a selective college that he wanted to attend. When you meet with the student, you tell the student that he has control of how he chooses to respond to the situation. Which counseling theorist emphasizes that people can choose how to respond to difficult situations? A. Viktor Frankl B. Sigmund Freud C. Carl Rogers D. Abraham Maslow
A. Of all the choices provided, Viktor Frankl emphasized that people have a choice in how they respond to events, even in the most difficult situations. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools
In which of the following situations would a school psychologist tell a teacher that the technique of “time-out” is appropriate to employ?
A. When a child blurts out answers in class despite being told twice to stop
B. When a student with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) starts to have difficulty focusing on the task at hand
C. When a student with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is socializing during a test
D. When a student moves around the room without permission during a teacher’s presentation of a new concept
B. Time-out techniques are frequently used as punishment when they should be employed as preventive measures. In choice “B,” a student with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might possibly need a cognitive rest break to help with his concentration and prevent negative behaviors that may develop. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and
Schools
In a response to intervention (RTI) process, Tier 2 (Level 2) interventions are generally associated with which of the following?
A. Intensive interventions
B. Benchmark interventions
C. 5% to 8% of the student population
D. Strategic interventions for “at-risk” students
D. There are three levels typically illustrated within the response to intervention (RTI) pyramid. At the bottom level, screening and universal measures reside. Level 2 RTIs are associated with more targeted interventions for at-risk students. At the highest RTI level, the most intensive interventions are found, usually for 5% to 8% of a school’s population. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools and Systems-Level Services
When conducting a problem-solving and ecological assessment, what four components should
psychologists emphasize?
A. School environment, student records, formal assessments, and student learning styles
B. School environment, home environment, community environment, and interpersonal skills
C. Instruction, curriculum, environment, and learning style
D. Informal assessments, formal assessments, student records, and student interview
C. This item might be difficult to answer because other choices are valid or have components that are valid. Remember the acronym ICEL when answering ecological types of questions. ICEL stands for instruction, curriculum, environment, and learner style. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools and Professional Practices, Practices That Permeate All Aspects of Service Delivery
A parent is demanding that her son be placed on an individual education plan (IEP) because he has a formal diagnosis of schizophrenia. The student’s pediatrician has also recommended an IEP and wrote a prescription for one. Despite the mother’s concern, the student’s medication appears to be effective in managing his disorder and he is able to make educational progress. As a school psychologist, what is your response to the parent?
A. If there is no educational or social impact, then a formal special education IEP may not be appropriate
B. Legally, a medical diagnosis and recommendation from the doctor must be honored
C. Although the school is not legally obligated to provide an IEP in this situation, it is good
practice to provide special education support
D. Students with schizophrenia should be provided formal supports and an IEP, especially to prevent the student’s difficulties from getting worse within the school environment
A. Special education qualifications have strict criteria that a special education team must consider. A primary consideration by the special education team is to determine whether a student cannot access the general curriculum and if there is negative educational and/or social impact from the suspected disability. In this case, it is implied that the student is making “reasonable educational progress.” There may be other ways to address the concerns of the parent and the needs of the student outside of the special education progress (e.g., Multi-Tiered System of Support [MTSS]). Medical doctors that are not employed by a school district have no authority to dictate educational services. Professional Practices, Practices That Permeate All Aspects of Service Delivery
From a historical perspective, which is a new role for schools?
A. Reading interventionist for response to intervention (RTI) programs
B. Brain injury resource specialist for school districts
C. Threat assessment team leaders for schools and law enforcement
D. Autism evaluation specialist
B. A new role for psychologists is brain injury specialist because psychologists are trained in
measuring brain-based functions. Although options “C” and “A” might also be valid choices, psychologists have been involved in providing professional consultation regarding reading problems and threatening behaviors longer than brain injury management issues (which is a new development). Foundations of School Psychological Service Delivery
What type of behavioral intervention would you recommend for a student with a phobia involving insects?
A. Flooding
B. Cognitive behavioral therapy
C. Systematic desensitization
D. Functional behavioral analysis and intervention
C. Although this question and answer is not common to the field of school psychology, be
prepared to answer such questions. Systematic desensitization is a well-known behavioral
technique that is typically associated with helping people with various irrational fears. Direct and
Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools
According to psychological research, students who sacrifice sleep to play hours of continuous video games might develop which of the following problems?
A. Antisocial personality disorder
B. Traits normally associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)–inattentive type
C. Aggressive tendencies and poor social skills
D. Difficulties with memory and learning
D. Lack of sleep has been scientifically correlated with poor memory performance. Video game playing by teens is a growing concern as it is addictive to school-aged students, especially males.
Foundations of School Psychological Service Delivery and Direct and Indirect Services for
Children, Families, and Schools
Before administering a new psychological assessment, it is reasonable for a school psychologist to
do which of the following?
A. Complete a formal training course on the new test
B. Give the new test to students but report the scores as informal measures until proficiency is achieved
C. Practice with the new test and be supervised by a colleague familiar with the test until proficient
D. Watch a training video and practice with the new test until proficient
C. The answer to this test item is difficult because all but “B” are valid responses. The best answer is “C” because this choice includes practice and supervision. A colleague can provide insight and
feedback when learning new psychological tests and practices. It is not always feasible to take a full training course on a new test. Watching a video of a new assessment is helpful, but it does not provide an opportunity for interactive questions. Foundations of School Psychological Service
Delivery and Professional Practices, Practices That Permeate All Aspects of Service Delivery
A school psychologist is reviewing research about several new assessments for reading fluency. As
the psychologist reviews the reliability data, he or she notes there is significant variability in the correlations. Which of the following correlation coefficients depicts strongest reliability?
A. 0.96
B. –0.97
C. 0.100
D. –0.450
B. Remember that a negative correlation can be stronger than a positive correlation. Note that a –0.97 is almost a perfect (i.e., highest possible) correlation. Professional Practices, Practices That
Permeate All Aspects of Service Delivery
Informal and formal data are required to inform professional judgments regarding an individual student at the four response to intervention (RTI) levels. Which one of the following is not a level
typically required to inform professional judgment?
A. Background data collection and problem identification level
B. Screening level
C. Analysis and determination level
D. Formal assessment level (special education evaluation)
C. Option “C” is not a valid level, but all other choices are correct levels. The level that is missing is the progress monitoring and response to intervention (RTI) level. At this level, data are used to
determine effectiveness of the interventions (RTI) once a student is identified as having a problem. Professional Practices, Practices That Permeate All Aspects of Service Delivery and SystemsLevel Services
Two mainstream cognitive test batteries are the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V) and the Stanford–Binet, Fifth Edition (SB-V). When these tests were being constructed, their overall full scale scores were statistically analyzed and found to be highly correlated. What is the purpose of correlating overall scores on similar tests when creating them? A. To establish validity B. To establish convergent validity C. To establish reliability D. To establish predictive validity
B. When two similar measures are purposely correlated, this is done to establish convergent validity. Two similar, but different tests should correlate highly. If two purportedly similar
measures did not correlate, then one of the tests might be an invalid measure of the construct being assessed. Correlation coefficients for tests should be within the 0.80 to 0.90 range to be endorsed for use. Professional Practices, Practices That Permeate All Aspects of Service Delivery
School psychologists are increasingly asked to support students with several different types of difficulties, especially mild brain injuries (e.g., concussions). If a student sustains a hit to the back
of the head, what difficulties should you expect and how should you support the student within the school environment?
A. The student will most likely have visual difficulties and light sensitivity. The school
psychologist should allow for frequent rest breaks and allow the student to wear sunglasses at school
B. The student will most likely have headaches. The school psychologist should allow the
student to stay at home until the student’s headaches have fully resolved
C. The student will most likely have cognitive fatigue and short-term memory problems. The school psychologist should allow for frequent breaks in the health room and a late school start as needed
D. The student will most likely have difficulty focusing and experience headaches. The school psychologist should collaborate with parents to create a support plan for the student
A. School psychologists do not have extensive training in neuropsychology, but they should be aware of basic brain-based functions. A basic knowledge of neuropsychology can increase a school psychologist’s understanding of student learning and behavior. In this question, a hit to the
back of the head typically impacts the occipital lobe of the brain. The occipital lobe is the primary
visual cortex. When the occipital lobe is dysfunctional due to a concussion, students commonly have problems with visual processes (reading, writing) and they experience light sensitivity. Direct
and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools
