ASSESSMENT, TESTING, & DIAGNOSIS CHAPTER 7

THINK ABOUT: What is the history of testing in the counseling profession? What are types of assessment procedures and instruments that counselors use? What role does the initial interview have in the counseling process?

HISTORY OF TESTING in COUNSELING When did testing originate in the field of counseling, and for what purpose? What are main criticisms of testing in the counseling process? What are main hardships of testing in the counseling profession today according to the authors of your textbook?

TESTS What are the main purposes of tests? Counselors need to use ethical practice when: Selecting tests to use Interpreting the tests Using test results to further the counseling process.

IN-CLASS ACTIVITY Jot down thoughts to these questions individually over the next 5 minutes: How might test scores be used incorrectly/mistakenly and cause harm to a client? How can counselors make sure not to use tests incorrectly (think back to our ethics lecture!) Class Discussion of your lists.

CLASSIFICATION OF TESTS Non-Standardized tests No formal procedure for administration or scoring. How does client observation impact non-standardized test administration?

CLASSIFICATION OF TESTS Standardized Tests Systematically and statistically designed to give objective information on people. What is a norm group? What might be possible problems with norm groups? What is reliability? What is validity? 7

TYPES of STANDARDIZED TESTS Intelligence Tests Designed to measure academic ability. Where are intelligence tests used? What might be cautions you would take when interpreting an intelligence test? 8

TYPES of STANDARDIZED TESTS Aptitude Tests Designed to measure ability to learn – specific to given areas of performance. What are specific examples of aptitude tests? When/How are they used? What might be cautions you would take when interpreting an aptitude test?

TYPES of STANDARDIZED TESTS Interest Inventories Designed to measure interest in a variety of different careers or professions for career-focused counseling. What are specific examples of interest inventories? When/How are they used? What might be cautions you would take when interpreting an interest inventory?

STANDARDIZED TESTS Personality Measures - OBJECTIVE Designed to measure personality traits or characteristics AND to measure varying degrees of pathology. What are specific examples of personality measures that are objective inventories? When/How are they used? What might be cautions you would take when interpreting an objective personality measure?

STANDARDIZED TESTS Personality Measures - PROJECTIVE Also designed to measure personality traits or characteristics AND to measure varying degrees of pathology. What are specific examples of personality measures that are projective inventories? When/How are they used? What might be cautions you would take when interpreting an projective personality measure?

INITIAL INTERVIEW Initial/Clinical Interview is the primary way of learning about the client at the beginning of the counseling process. If you were performing a clinical interview, what would be areas you would ask a client about/what would you want to know?

DSM-IV-TR What is the DSM-IV-TR? Where is this manual used? What does it mean to diagnose a client on 5 axes? What does each axis stand for? What are advantages of the DSM-IV-TR? What are disadvantages?