Professional Practices Flashcards
What methods can school psychologists use to gather information from parents?
Questionnaires and interviews
Both methods can be conducted in person, via phone, or video.
What are two major differences between questionnaires and interviews?
- Questionnaires are less expensive
- Interviews involve social interaction
Questionnaires do not require interviewer training.
Why might questionnaires be preferable for sensitive subjects like truancy?
People are more comfortable privately completing them.
What is an interview schedule?
A set of prepared questions asked in a standardized format.
What type of questions can be used in interviews?
- Closed questions
- Open questions
Closed questions generate fixed responses, while open questions allow for personal expression.
What are the advantages of structured interviews?
- Easier to quantify data
- Quick to conduct
- Can gather large samples efficiently
What are the disadvantages of structured interviews?
- Lack of flexibility
- Closed questions provide limited detail
What characterizes unstructured interviews?
They are like guided conversations without a strict sequence of questions.
What are the advantages of unstructured interviews?
- Greater flexibility
- Yield qualitative data
- Greater validity
They allow for deeper insights and understanding of motivations.
What are the disadvantages of unstructured interviews?
- More time-consuming
- Requires skilled interviewers
What is the interviewer effect?
The influence of the interviewer’s presence on the interviewee’s responses.
What factors can cause interviewer effects?
- Interviewer’s age
- Ethnicity
- Gender
- Social status
- Body language
What is frequency/event recording?
Counting behavior occurrences observed during specified time periods.
When is event/frequency recording best used?
For behaviors with distinct beginnings and ends.
What is duration recording?
Measuring the individual and cumulative length of behavioral occurrences.
What does latency recording measure?
The time elapsed after giving a direction before the student initiates the specified behavior.
What is time-sampling interval recording?
Dividing observation periods into equal intervals to identify behavior occurrence/absence.
What is whole-interval recording?
Scores a behavior’s presence if it occurs throughout the entire specified time interval.
What is partial-interval recording?
Scores a behavior if it occurs at any time during the interval.
What is momentary time-sampling?
Records a behavior’s presence or absence only at the moment a timed interval starts.
What does the Behavior Observation of Students in Schools (BOSS) measure?
- On-task behavior
- Off-task behavior
It categorizes engagement into active and passive types.
What are the seven classroom behavior categories identified by the ADHDSOC?
- Interference
- Motor movement
- Noncompliance
- Verbal aggression
- Symbolic aggression
- Object aggression
- Off-task
What should a psychological evaluation report include?
- Reason for referral
- Assessment procedures
- Background information
- Behavioral observations
- Test results
- Interpretations
- Conclusions
- Recommendations
Why is background information important in a psychological evaluation?
It helps inform the school psychologist’s interpretation of the student’s performance.
What factors should school psychologists consider for non-discriminatory assessments?
- Individual situations
- Personal and professional biases
What type of information can inform a student’s assessment?
- Disabilities
- Time spent in regular education
- Medical diagnoses
- Test results
What is Response to Intervention (RtI)?
A framework for a multi-level preventative system to promote maximal student learning.
What is Response to Intervention (RtI)?
A framework for a multi-level preventative system to promote student learning and achievement
It aims to prevent or decrease student problem behaviors through assessment and intervention.
What are the key components of the RtI system?
Screening, data-based decision-making, progress monitoring, prevention
These components work together to improve student outcomes.
What does validity refer to in screening tools?
Whether the screener tests what it is supposed to test
What does reliability refer to in screening tools?
Whether the results are consistent across administrations
Define classification accuracy in the context of screening tools.
How well a screening tool can classify students into at-risk or not at-risk categories
What is generalizability concerning screening tools?
How well a screening tool’s results can be applied to different populations
What is Test-Retest Reliability?
Comparison of screening test scores obtained at two different times
What is Parallel-Forms Reliability?
Comparison of results from two equivalent forms of a screening tool
What does Split-Half Reliability measure?
How well two halves of a screening test compare to each other
What is Interrater Reliability?
Comparison of results across different administrators of the same screening tool
What is content validity?
How well a test represents the domain it addresses
Explain criterion validity.
How much a test’s results correspond to a specific criterion measurement
What is construct validity?
How well an instrument reflects the construct it is intended to measure
What is face validity?
A subjective judgment about whether a test appears to measure what it is supposed to measure
What are criterion-referenced targets?
Scores that indicate benchmark performance in reading or math probes
What are norm-referenced targets?
Scores compared to local and national norms
What is Spearman’s ‘g factor’ theory of intelligence?
A theory suggesting intelligence is a generalized cognitive ability, measurable in numerical terms
List Thurstone’s seven primary mental abilities.
- Verbal comprehension
- Reasoning
- Perceptual speed
- Numerical ability
- Word fluency
- Associative memory
- Spatial visualization
What are Gardner’s eight intelligences?
- Visual-spatial intelligence
- Verbal-linguistic intelligence
- Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence
- Logical-mathematical intelligence
- Interpersonal intelligence
- Intrapersonal intelligence
- Musical intelligence
- Naturalistic intelligence
What are Sternberg’s three factors of ‘successful intelligence’?
- Analytical intelligence
- Creative intelligence
- Practical intelligence
What do academic achievement tests measure?
Specific academic skills and compare them to similar students’ skills
How do academic achievement tests differ from classroom assessments?
Achievement tests measure general skills, while classroom assessments measure specific skills just taught
What is a common range for average scores on standardized academic achievement tests?
90 to 109
What is the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT)?
One of the most commonly administered academic achievement tests
What does the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) measure?
Student performance in reading, math, science, civics, arts, writing, economics, US history, and geography
What cognitive abilities does the Woodcock-Johnson (WJ) test measure?
- Long-Term Retrieval
- Short-Term Memory
What is the primary focus of standardized measures of executive function (EF) in schools?
To assess and analyze students’ executive functioning capabilities
What is the main purpose of screening tools in educational psychology?
To identify students at risk for academic difficulties
What does the Picture Recognition test measure?
Visual memory
This test falls under the category of Visual Processing.
Which tests are included under Short-Term Memory?
- Numbers Reversed
- Auditory Working Memory
- Memory for Words
- Digit Span subscale
- Letter-Number Sequencing
- Sentences
These tests measure working memory and memory span.
What age range does the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) cover?
Ages 5-18
It includes a preschool form and has versions for teachers and parents.
What are the scale scores for Metacognition in the BRIEF?
- Planning/Organizing
- Working Memory
- Initiation
- Materials Organization
- Monitoring
These scores assess various aspects of metacognitive processes.
What does the Behavior Regulation Index in the BRIEF include?
- Emotional Control
- Shifting
- Inhibition
This index measures behavioral regulation skills.
What does the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)-Teacher Report Form assess?
Emotional/social attentional functioning
It is generally used for assessing children’s behavior in school settings.
What areas does the Neuropsychological Assessment (NEPSY) test?
- Executive Functioning/Attention
- Sensorimotor Functioning
- Visual-Spatial Processing
- Social Perception
- Memory and Learning
- Language
It is administered individually to ages 3-4 and 5-16.
What is the purpose of the Cognitive Assessment System?
To assess planning and attention
It uses six subtests to evaluate these skills.
What does the Children’s Category Test (CCT) evaluate?
Categorization and mental flexibility
It is nonverbal and designed for ages 6-16.
What is assessed during the WISC-IV Advanced Clinical Interpretation?
Executive Function via four subtests
Each subtest comes from a different modality.
What emotional self-regulation aspects are assessed in classrooms?
- Emotional self-regulation during tasks
- Problem-solving strategies
- Task/goal persistence
- Attention maintenance and span
- Organization
- Time management
These assessments can inform teaching strategies.
What difficulties are associated with writing according to the assessment?
- Planning how writing fits on a page
- Motor control
- Content organization
- Idea retrieval and use
- Thought manipulation
- Execution
These factors can affect a student’s writing abilities.
Fill in the blank: The Recognizing Rhyme Assessment tests whether children can identify _______.
[rhyming words]
This includes distinguishing between rhyming and non-rhyming words.
What are the two types of adaptive behaviors?
- Developmental skills
- Everyday living activities
These behaviors help individuals adapt to their environment.
What does the Scales of Independent Behavior-Revised (SIB-R) assess?
- Adaptive behaviors
- Behavior problems
- Overall independence
It provides norms for age groups from three months to 80+ years.
True or False: Maladaptive behaviors steadily increase or decrease with age.
False
Maladaptive behaviors are expressed variably across settings and do not follow a steady trend with age.
What is the original name of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS)?
Vineland Social Maturity Scale
The VABS was originally developed to assess social maturity.
What is the age range for the norms established in the VABS?
Up to 18 years
The VABS includes norms for assessing individuals from infancy through 18 years of age.
How many items are included in the two editions of the VABS?
577 items and 297 items
The VABS has two editions that collect information through semi-structured interviews.
Who is required to administer the VABS according to the manual?
Psychologist/social worker/other professional with training
Administrators must have a graduate degree in interviewing techniques.
What domains does the VABS include for children aged 5-18?
- Maladaptive Behavior Domain
- Motor Skills Domain
The Maladaptive Behavior Domain lists behaviors that can be scored based on frequency.
What is the purpose of the AAIDD Adaptive Behavior Scale (ABS)?
Evaluate how an individual copes with natural and social demands
The AAIDD ABS is designed to assess adaptive behavior in various settings.
What types of items are included in the AAIDD ABS?
- Yes/No items
- Highest level circled items
Some items may have confusing negative wording.
What is the primary focus of the Inventory for Client and Agency Planning (ICAP)?
Measures adaptive and maladaptive behaviors
The ICAP also collects demographic and service-related information.
What does the ICAP provide in addition to measuring behaviors?
Service Score
The Service Score indicates the individual’s overall need for supervision, training, and/or care.
What is the age range for the Social Emotional Evaluation® (SEE)?
Ages 6.0-12.11
The SEE assesses social and emotional skills for children in this age range.
What are the five subtests used in the SEE?
- Recalling Facial Expressions
- Identifying Common Emotions
- Recognizing Emotional Reactions
- Understanding Social Gaffes (with audio)
- Understanding Conflicting Messages (with audio)
The subtests use pictures and audio to assess various emotional and social skills.
What type of instrument is the Ages & Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE)?
Parental reporting instrument
It is designed for children from infancy to 5 years old.