Deck 14: Assessment in Marriage and 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

C

Question 2

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

Answer 2

B

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

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 9

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 10

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 11

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.

Question 12

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 13

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 14

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 15

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 16

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 17

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 18

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 19

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 20

The Kvebaek 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 21

How should counselors approach their interpretations of genograms?​

Question 22

How would you define family dynamics and interaction patterns ?​

Question 23

Identify factors that contribute to satisfaction and dissatisfaction and how to measure them.​

Question 24

Who decides what constitutes a functional or a dysfunctional family? When is one competent to make this determination?​

Question 25

What are your thoughts about the marriage and family assessment tools which are not traditional paper-and-pencil instruments?​

Question 26

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 27

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.

Question 28

FACES-IV provides measures of family:​

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

Question 29

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 30

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.

Question 31

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.