Report Writing

Question 1

Full evaluation is not complete until

Answer 1

Information has been organized, synthesized, and integrated

Question 2

Delivery

Answer 2

Written report & oral summary

Question 3

Generally, the written report should convey

Answer 3

• Background information
• Findings of assessments
• Clinical impressions
• Specific recommendations

Question 4

The importance of reports

Answer 4

To document the current ability level of the child
* Areas of strength and weaknesses
* Includes information from parents, teachers, guardians

To communicate recommendations and / or interventions
* To report to another psychologist, a school counselor, teacher, parent
* Given as a resource to help the child (socially, behaviorally, emotionally, academically)

To provide a basis of support for the child
* Reports are weighted heavily in decision-making to aid a child in school
* Helps with development of IEP (individualized education plans)

Question 5

An effective report should:

Answer 5

• Utilize formation provided by all key sources
• Organize information for future use
• Synthesize and integrate information about the child

Question 6

Intake process

Answer 6

This is an initial source of information
Typically filled out by a parent or guardian at the time of intake
* Questionnaires
* Includes large amounts of data
Could include interviews with the parent or child
* At the discretion of the assessor
* Depends on training, purpose of assessment, etc.

Question 7

Intake process
Information includes:

Answer 7

Basic background information
Developmental history
Medical history
Family information
Parent personal data
School referral information

Question 8

Intake process
Information includes..
Basic background information

Answer 8

Contact
* Presenting problem

Question 9

Intake process
Information includes..
Developmental history

Answer 9

Behaviours during infancy
* Pregnancy information
* Age of behavioural development

Question 10

Intake process
Information includes..
Medical history

Answer 10

Child’s medical history
* Family medical history

Question 11

Intake process
Information includes:
Family information

Answer 11

The child’s family unit
* Stress within the family

Question 12

Intake process
Information includes:
Parent personal data

Answer 12

Educational history
* Work history
* Personal characteristics
* Medical / health status

Question 13

Intake process
Information includes
School referral information

Answer 13

Teacher / principal report’s
* Special education program
* School psychologist reports

Question 14

Preparing the report

Answer 14

Consideration to who the target audience is

Ensure that it is readable by non-professionals

Key elements:
* Concise
* Clear
* Objective
* Accurate

Question 15

Content of the report

Answer 15

• Identifying information
• Assessment instruments
• Reason for referral
• Background information
• Observations during the assessment
• Assessment results and clinical impressions
• Recommendations
• Summary

IARB OARS

Question 16

Content of the report
Identifying information

Answer 16

Name: _____________
Date of birth: ________
Sex: M / F
Chronological age: __ years __ months __ days
Dates of the assessment: _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _
Date of report: _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _
Institution / agency: ___________________
Your contact information: _______________

Question 17

Content of the report
Assessment Instruments

Answer 17

List of instruments
* Quick reference of tests that were used in the assessment

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–IV (WISC-IV)
Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test–IV (PPVT-IV)

Question 18

Content of the report
Reason for Referral

Answer 18

Synopsis of the reason for the referral
* Who initiated the referral (relationship / position / affiliation)
* What was the purpose of the assessment (as requested)
* Question and concerns that were raised by the referral source
* A brief summary of the presenting issues or behaviours

Question 19

Content of the report
Background information

Answer 19

• Developmental milestones / history
• Medical history & medical reports (*cite source & date)
• Educational history
• Current grade level in school
• Any special programming in school
• Present level of academic functioning
• Information from interviews with parents / teachers
• Data about past gathered from your interview of the child
• Information from previous psychological or psychiatric assessment
• Previous interventions / outcomes regarding the referral questions
  Current family situation
• Family constellation / relevant family history
• Information on parent occupations and education
• Parent views on discipline, child’s responsibilities, and parent involvement with the child
• Social interactions / peer relationships
• Teachers’ and parents’ observations of child’s behaviour and attitudes

Access to past records – requires parent / guardian permission through release-ofinformation forms
Personal Health Information Protection Act 2004
* “Request to access personal health information form”
* Governs the manner in which personal health information may be collected, used,
and disclosed within the health sector
* Safeguards the child’s personal information

Data also collected through interviews
* Assess the quality of information provided
o e.g. was the parent cooperative, engaged, supportive, concerned, hostile, detailed &
thorough, vague, uncertain?
* Assess gaps and inconsistencies in information
* Organization of information à begin with the parent or referral source

Question 20

Content of the report
Observations

Answer 20

Carefully describe the child’s behaviour during the evaluation

Best written by describing the presence vs. absence of a behaviour
* e.g. “the child was not hyperactive” vs. ”the child was quiet and calm” / “the child stayed on task”

Include observations important for the assessment

Use descriptions of the behaviour as opposed to interpretations
* In some instances, it may be useful to describe the behaviour followed by an interpretation
* e.g. child tapping feet

Question 21

Content of the report
Assessment Results and Clinical Impressions

Answer 21

Need to go beyond just the findings and interpret their meaning
* Begin by qualifying if the assessment is viewed as valid & reliable
* Cite any concerns à that test results do not clearly reflect the child’s abilities
* Identify instruments, test scores, percentile ranks, and confidence intervals
* Strengths and weaknesses
* Describes significant problems, indications of psychopathology, signs of
exceptionality, creativity, giftedness
* Note interrelationships across findings
* Implications of the assessment findings and any diagnostic impressions