Deck 11: Assessment in Marriage Family Counseling

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a problem with developing instruments for couples and families?

A)varying opinions among the family members on family dynamics
B)difficulties addressing the different stages of families
C)lack of a theoretical grounding that could influence assessment
D)family dynamics change and fluctuate and are not as stable as traits

Answer 1

lack of a theoretical grounding that could influence assessment

Question 2

Duffy and Chenail (2004) suggest that when observing families, therapists should focus on each of the following aspects of the family except:

A)diversity.
B)hierarchy.
C)interactions.
D)structure.

Answer 2

diversity.

Question 3

An inspection of the instruments used by marriage and family therapists reveals that:

A)the majority of the instruments used are designed for individual counseling.
B)there are few published instruments designed for use in family counseling.
C)approximately 75% of therapists use standardized instruments on a regular basis.
D)all of the above

Answer 3

the majority of the instruments used are designed for individual counseling.

Question 4

A counselor using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator in the context of family counseling would most likely focus on ___________________________ when interpreting the results.

A)explaining to each family member what his/her MBTI code means
B)the interactions that occur between family members, using the framework of their MBTI codes
C)explaining how criss-cross testing works
D)determining which family member has the wrong MBTI code and does not fit with the other family members

Question 5

Observational tasks and techniques (e.g., genograms) in the assessment of couples and families tend to:

A)be highly reliable and stable.
B)have low reliability.
C)be comparatively free of counselor bias.
D)have an abundance of research documenting their validity.

Question 6

The mapping of a genogram typically involves:

A)going back three generations.
B)drawing slashes between the family members where there is conflict.
C)having each member of the family draw a family portrait.
D)having the counselor in isolation map the structure of the nuclear family.

Question 7

We find that family variables are:

A)as stable as personality characteristics of individuals.
B)more stable than individual traits because family are very entrenched.
C)fluid and often fluctuate.
D)stable for about five years and then change as the family enters another stage.

Question 8

The assessment of couples and families has been influenced by the theoretical approach of many marriage and family therapists.This theoretical approach is:

A)Person-centered
B)Adlerian
C)Object Relations
D)Systemic

Question 9

The interpretation of the genogram involves:

A)identifying which of the three family structures the family most closely resembles.
B)having the family examine the genogram and identify the conflictual areas.
C)constructing hypotheses about multigenerational family patterns.
D)interpreting the computer-generated report.

Question 10

A significant problem in developing family assessments is:

A)minimizing the length of the instrument.
B)application in an "actual" family session.
C)utilizing a theoretical approach.
D)developing adequate norming samples.

Question 11

When conducting interviews with families, counselors should:

A)interview each member of the family individually.
B)involve and observe all family members in the interview.
C)use only structured interviews in order to increase the reliability of the observations.
D)interview the adults separately from the children.

Question 12

The Kveback Family Sculpting Technique and other family sculpting techniques involve having the family members:

A)sculpt a family statue.
B)arrange figurines or other objects in a manner representing the family relationships.
C)shape a piece of clay into object that represents the family atmosphere.
D)make a statue of the family member they feel closest to.

Question 13

A mapping technique that requires the family to draw the floor plan of their home, indicating where each member sleeps and spends time is called the:

A)family within home genogram
B)family drawing process
C)house floor plan
D)systemic family planning

Question 14

In addition to information on family structure and patterns of functioning, a genogram may also include information about the following, except for:

A)occupations of family members.
B)religious practices.
C)critical family events.
D)the clinician's observations of the family while the genogram is constructed.

Question 15

Genograms are based on which of the following ideas?

A)Families will project their level of cohesion in the way that they map the genogram.
B)Family conflict issues will automatically surface through the mapping of the genogram.
C)Family patterns are transmitted multigenerationally.
D)All families have a structure, and the genogram reflects that structure.

Question 16

It is difficult to define what constitutes functional vs.dysfunctional families because:

A)what is considered dysfunctional for one family may be functional for another.
B)not all family theorists agree upon appropriate family behaviors.
C)cultural differences exist in what is considered acceptable or unacceptable in families.
D)all of the above

Question 17

When interpreting the Kveback Family Sculpting Technique, the counselor:

A)measures the distance between the placement of the figurines.
B)draws slashes between the family members where there is conflict.
C)asks the family to explain the family sculpture they created.
D)all of the above

Question 18

Cierpka (2005) has proposed a model of family assessment where individually-oriented assessment can be used by focusing on how the individual ___________________________.

A)perceives the source of the "problem" within the family
B)may respond to familial therapeutic interventions
C)copes with familial stressors
D)organizes himself or herself within the family

Question 19

If a counselor is using a systemic approach, then his or her assessment strategy would be focused on:

A)each member of the family individually.
B)the interactions among the family members.
C)the parenting style of the parents.
D)the children's behaviors.

Question 20

The roles and rules (spoken and unspoken) within a family, and expectations for behavior that contribute to family functioning is known as:

A)family structure and composition.
B)family processes.
C)relationship patterns.
D)family organization.

Question 21

Which of the following instruments is based on assessing social climates or environments?

A)Family Social Climates Scale (FSCC)
B)Family Environment Scale (FES)
C)Family Assessment Measure (FAM-III)
D)Couples Marital Climate Scale (CMCS)

Question 22

The Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised (MSI-R) is designed to assist couples in:

A)identifying common themes of conflict
B)communicating about relationship issues
C)determining commonalities of interest
D)understanding each other's perceptions of parenting expectations

Question 23

FACES-IV provides measures of family:

A)conflict and trust
B)communication and cohesion
C)control and involvement
D)cohesion and flexibility

Question 24

Although some individually oriented instruments can provide counselors with insights into the family, these instruments do not:

A)provide insight into such factors as level of relational satisfaction and areas of conflict.
B)inform the family therapeutic process.
C)allow for direct feedback to the members of the family.
D)adequate external validity.

Question 25

In addition to allowing counselors to examine congruence in the couple's personalities, the "criss-cross" testing feature of the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis also allows counselors to:

A)determine the level of relationship satisfaction for each member of the couple.
B)identify whether or not the couple should stay together.
C)examine the influence of other family members on the couple's relationship.
D)look at consistencies or inconsistencies in how the members of the couple view themselves and each other.

Question 26

Which premarital assessment is comprised of 276 items and measures the four broad areas of personality/values, family and friend support, communication skills, and background/upbringing?

A)PREPARE
B)ENRICH
C)RELATE
D)MATE

Question 27

The premarital assessment PREPARE has been found to be more useful if the results were combined with ________________ rather than only receiving feedback.

A)counseling
B)being provided with the manual
C)additional individual assessments
D)words of encouragement

Question 28

Although the norming group consisted of only 218 White married individuals, reliability estimates for the ________________________ suggest that it may be suitable for use with couples of varying sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity and marital status.

A)Martial Satisfaction Inventory - Revised
B)Marital Adjustment Test
C)Dyadic Adjustment Scale
D)Couple's Pre-Counseling Inventory

Question 29

Which of the following is not one of the topics covered in the PREPARE/ENRICH program?

A)financial planning and budgeting
B)childrearing
C)conflict resolution
D)assertiveness and active listening

Question 30

Which of the following instruments would be appropriate to use with a couple seeking premarital counseling?

A)MSI
B)ENRICH
C)PREPARE
D)FACES-III

Question 31

Which of the following instruments involves "criss-cross" testing where each individual first takes the instrument and then takes it a second time, but provides answers they believe the other person would give?

A)Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis
B)Family Environment Scale
C)Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised
D)Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Question 32

In addition to evaluating relationship satisfaction and adjustment, the _______________________ also assesses issues including division of responsibilities, violence, and decision-making structure.

A)Couples Pre-Counseling Inventory
B)Dyadic Adjustment Scale
C)Marital Adjustment Test
D)Martial Satisfaction Inventory - Revised

Question 33

Assessment instruments in the area of marriage and family:

A)are for the most part well-established instruments with strong psychometric properties.
B)are comparable to intelligence tests in terms of reliability and validity evidence.
C)typically have very limited psychometric information, requiring caution in their use.
D)have higher validity coefficients than personality instruments. Discussion Questions

Question 34

In assessing couples, the focus is typically on:

A)whether or not the couple should get married.
B)calculating the probability of divorce.
C)determining if there is violence in the relationship.
D)the relationship and couple distress.