Chapter 8 Assessment, Testing, and the Diagnostic Process 1
Assessment - A multifaceted process that involves a variety of functions, such as testing and evaluation, in an effort to determine an individual s: -Characteristics -Aptitudes -Achievements -Personal qualities 2
Assessment - One of the advantages of using testing in counseling is to provide as much information as possible to aid the clients in decision making. Standardized tests attempt to insure that the administration, scoring, and other conditions are the same for all clients. 3
Assessment - Problems with tests: - Tests encourage client dependency upon the counselor and upon an external source for solution to his/her problem. - Test data prejudice the counselor s picture of the individual. - Test data are invalid and unreliable enough so that their value is severely limited. 4
Assessment - Research - 4th graders We treat people the way we see them 5
TESTS OF ABILITY: (Concerned with measuring learning, acquired capabilities, or developed skills) Intelligence 1. Abstract thinking 2. Problem solving 3. Capacity to acquire knowledge 4. Adjustment to new situations 5. Sustaining of abilities in order to achieve desired goals Stanford-Binet - Wechsler Scales - WAIS - Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale WISC - Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children WPPSI - Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence 6
TESTS OF APTITUDE: (Prediction of future performance) SAT - Scholastic Aptitude Test ACT - American College Test GRE - Graduate Record Exam 7
TEST OF ACHIEVEMENT: (Proficiency tests) - Used to measure learning, acquired capabilities, or developed skills. - CAT - California Achievement Test 8
TESTS OF TYPICAL PERFORMANCE: Measures an individual s day-to-day behavior or performance. (Personality and Interest Inventories) Personality Inventories: MMPI-II - Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory TAT - Thematic Apperception Test CAT - Children's Apperception Test Rorschach - Ink Blot Interest Inventories: Designed to compare their results to those of persons successfully employed in various occupations. 9
Selecting Tests: 1. Burros Mental Measurements Yearbook 2. Test manuals 3. Test reviews published in professional journals 4. Meets multicultural assessment standards 10
Selecting Tests: Validity - the most important single factor in test selection, refers to the extent to which the test measures what it claims to measure. Reliability - refers to the consistency of scores and freedom from error of measurement. Usability - Takes in factors such as convenience, cost, and ease of interpretation, which need to be carefully considered. 11
Selecting Tests: Some Non-Test Adjuncts to Counseling: 1. Autobiography 2. Personal data questionnaires (history) 3. Essays (looks at self-perception 4. Sentence Completion (Rotter) 5. Observations 12
Selecting Tests: Test Results are Effected by - Test Anxiety - Motivation -The interpretations of assessment data should fully involve the client. -Ideally, you should use both standardized and non standardized tests. 13
DIAGNOSIS: DSM-IV - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 14
DIAGNOSIS: Counselors use the DSM: 1. As a source of standardized terminology in which to communicate with other mental health specialists. 2. For satisfying the record-keeping requirements of insurance companies or credentialing agencies. 3. For classifying clientele in statistical categories. 4. For predicting the course of a disorder and the progress of treatment. 15
DIAGNOSIS: Axis I: Clinical Disorders Axis II: Personality Disorders Axis III: General Medical Conditions Axis IV: Psychological and Environmental Problems Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) 16
DIAGNOSIS: Many professionals in the counseling field oppose diagnosis because: -Reliability is inconsistent -There is an emphasis on pathology -There is an emphasis on the medical model 17
DIAGNOSIS: The major strength of the DSM-IV is that it captures the essence of the person s: -Symptoms -Personality Patterns -Current Functioning 18
Final Paper Draft Proofing Web Page 19
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