PRINCIPLES OF ASSESSMENT

Question 1

Purposes of measurement (4)

Answer 1

Discriminative - differentiate between two or more groups of people

Predictive - classify people into a set of predefined measurement categories for purpose of estimating prognosis

Evaluative - measurement of change in an individual or group over time

Descriptive - obtain a ‘clinical picture’ or baseline of person’s skills

Question 2

Define measurement

Answer 2

Use of a standard to quantify an observation

Question 3

Define assessment

Answer 3

Process of determining meaning of a measurement; the process of measuring something with the purpose of assigning a numerical value

Question 4

Criterion-referenced assessment

Answer 4

Where the client is graded in terms of some behavioural standard

Question 5

Norm-referenced assessment

Answer 5

Where the client is compared to a group of other people who have taken the same measure

Question 6

Define evaluation

Answer 6

Process of determining the worth of something in relation to established benchmarks using assessment information

Question 7

Define re-evaluation

Answer 7

Process of critical analysis of client response to intervention

Question 8

Define screening

Answer 8

A quick review of the client’s situation to determine if an occupational therapy evaluation is warranted; typically a “hands off” process

Question 9

Define testing

Answer 9

A systematic procedure for observing a person’s behaviour & describing it with the aid of a numerical scale or a category-system

Question 10

Types of testing

Answer 10

Observation  
Interview / history  
Review of records / survey  
Paper & pencil tests: checklists, answer questions on paper  
Oral tests (interviews) 
Apparatus tests requiring equipment

Question 11

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

Answer 11

The conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients

Question 12

Non Standardised assessments

Answer 12

Do not follow a standard approach or protocol

Question 13

Standardised assessments

Answer 13

Are developed using prescribed procedures

Question 14

Types of assessments

Answer 14

Descriptive
Evaluative
Predictive
Criterion-referenced
Norm-referenced

Question 15

Reliability

Answer 15

Consistency and repeatability of the results obtained when a scale is administered on more than one occasion by the same researcher using a measure

Question 16

Sources of error (reliability)

Answer 16

Random

systematic

Question 17

Types of reliability (6)

Answer 17

Intra-Rater
Inter-Rater
Alternate form 
Split half
Test-retest 
Internal consistency

Question 18

Validity

Answer 18

The extent to which a test measures what it purports to measure

Question 19

Types of validity (6)

Answer 19

Construct
Content
Criterion
Face
Ecological
Experimental

Question 20

Sensitivity

Answer 20

Ability of a test to detect genuine changes in a client’s clinical condition or ability

Question 21

Specificity

Answer 21

Test’s ability to obtain a negative result when the condition is really absent (true negative

Question 22

Responsiveness

Answer 22

Ability of a measure to assess and quantify clinically important change

Question 23

Issues to consider when using standardised test (4)

Answer 23

Simplicity
Clinical utility
Communicability
Discriminability

Question 24

Why use standardised test?

Answer 24

• Problem identification / Basis for intervention
• Provide the basis for goal-setting with clients & families
• Outcome measurement
• Prediction or prognosis
• Research
• Communication & reporting
• Accountability & quality assurance
• Funding & reimbursement
• Comparison & tracking

Question 25

Levels of measurement (5)

Answer 25

Nominal
Ordinal
Interval scales
Ratio scales
Hierarchical scales