Week 1

Question 1

Why doesn’t assessment equal psychological testing?

Answer 1

Testing is too broad, tests are scores but we need to put that into CONTEXT.

Clinician may have bias/experience that could influence the assessment.

Psychologists are more than psychometrics. Anyone can do descriptive interpretations of scores, psychologists are to serve as an expert on human behavior

The goal of tests is to improve functioning

Question 2

Early 1900s history of assessment

Answer 2

Initially all we had was interviewing. (Unstructured interviews in line w psychoanalysis)

The goal was a psychopathology diagnosis

Birth of mental status exam

Binet first scale of intelligence (1905)

Issues included reliability, validity, and cost effectiveness

Question 3

1930s/1940s assessment history

Answer 3

IQ testing ruled due to WW2
First version of MMPI published (1939)

Question 4

1960s history is assessment

Answer 4

Lots of behavioral assessment.

Even so, the scientific study of behavior started long before behavior assessment. Conceptualizing behaviors as environmental responses rather than representative traits. The goal was to identify behavioral responses, target behaviors, and reinforcers.

Question 5

1970s/1980s history of assessment

Answer 5

Increased focus on structured interviews. Increased influence of technology on assessment

Question 6

1990s history of assessment

Answer 6

Era of managed care (aka cost effective at all costs). Insurance influenced managed care (treatment plans, # of sessions). This created equity and diversity issues.

Question 7

2000+ history of assessment

Answer 7

Neuropsychological testing, decrease in projective use, areas of focus have broadened, strong focus on understanding the role of diversity in how testing is implemented/interpreted

Question 8

Psychological assessment process steps (there are 10)

Answer 8

1) Identify and evaluate the referral question
2) Begin with interviewing, observation, and reviewing records
3) Develop hypothesis
4) Select tests
5) Gather test evidence (admin and scoring)
6) Hypothesis (reject, modify, accept)
7) Create dynamic model of client (case conceptualization)
8) Answer the referral question
9) Make recommendations
10) Communicate findings to interested individuals