Question 1

A culturally fair test is one that:

Accepted Answer

A)  Has multiple language versions 
B)  Has content that does not advantage or disadvantage one particular group 
C)  Has a validity coefficient of .70 or greater 
D)  Has been shown to have equivalent mean scores for all ethnic-racial groups B

Question 2

Discussing Assessment results with a client have potential therapeutic benefit because:

Accepted Answer

A)  It can be a normalizing and validating experience 
B)  The assessor is always going to continue as the client's therapist 
C)  This is a better way of providing feedback than can be done in typical counseling sessions 
D)  Most client want their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to be measured A

Question 3

What can be the therapeutic benefit of discussing assessment results with a client?

Accepted Answer

Discussing assessment results with a client in a therapeutic setting can have several benefits, both for the client and the therapeutic process. Here are some of the key therapeutic benefits:

1. **Enhanced Self-Awareness**: Sharing assessment results can help clients gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their behaviors, and their thought patterns. This increased self-awareness is often the first step toward change and can empower clients to make more informed decisions about their lives.

2. **Clarification of Issues**: Assessments can help clarify the nature of the client's difficulties, distinguishing between symptoms that may appear similar but have different underlying causes. This can lead to more targeted and effective interventions.

3. **Validation of Experiences**: Seeing their experiences reflected in assessment results can validate clients' feelings and concerns, which can be particularly comforting for those who may feel misunderstood or alone in their struggles.

4. **Goal Setting**: Discussing assessment results can facilitate the setting of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. It provides a clear starting point and framework for the therapeutic work ahead.

5. **Treatment Planning**: Assessment results can guide the development of a tailored treatment plan that addresses the client's unique needs. It helps in selecting appropriate therapeutic techniques and interventions.

6. **Monitoring Progress**: Assessments can serve as a baseline for tracking progress over time. By comparing initial assessment results with follow-up assessments, both the therapist and the client can see which areas have improved and which may need further attention.

7. **Enhancing Motivation**: Understanding the assessment results can motivate clients to engage more actively in the therapeutic process. It can help them see the potential for change and the benefits of sticking with therapy.

8. **Building Therapeutic Alliance**: Discussing assessment results can strengthen the therapeutic relationship. It demonstrates transparency and collaboration, fostering trust and rapport between the client and therapist.

9. **Educational Tool**: Assessment feedback can be educational, providing clients with information about their mental health condition, the factors that contribute to it, and how it affects their life. This knowledge can be empowering and reduce stigma.

10. **Informed Consent**: Sharing assessment results ensures that clients are fully informed about their diagnosis and treatment options, which is essential for obtaining their consent to treatment and for ethical practice.

11. **Reducing Resistance**: When clients understand the rationale behind their treatment plan based on assessment results, they may be less resistant to the therapeutic process and more open to trying new strategies.

12. **Personalizing Treatment**: Assessment results can highlight individual differences in how clients experience and cope with their issues, allowing for more personalized and culturally sensitive interventions.

In summary, discussing assessment results with a client can enhance the therapeutic process by fostering self-awareness, clarifying issues, setting goals, planning treatment, monitoring progress, motivating clients, building the therapeutic alliance, educating, ensuring informed consent, reducing resistance, and personalizing treatment. It is a crucial step in creating an effective and collaborative therapeutic environment.

Question 4

Guidelines that have been established for using psychological tests in a culturally sensitive and responsible manner indicate that professionals should

Accepted Answer

A)  Determine if the client's reading level is sufficient for the particular test 
B)  Determine if the client would prefer an alternative language version of the test if one is available in the client's preferred language 
C)  (a) and (b) 
D)  Use only standardized tests with English speaking Caucasians with a third grade reading level and use informal measures with minority groups

Question 5

How would you determine if a test or measure is appropriate for a client given his or her cultural background?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How would you determine if a test...

Question 6

To use a standardized measure in accordance with a professional code of ethics' competency standard one should:

Accepted Answer

A)  Use only norm referenced tests 
B)  Understand the test's underlying construct and to how to interpret its results 
C)  Have already obtained a professional license 
D)  Be supervised until a license is obtained

Question 7

Brief self-report questionnaires are useful for

Accepted Answer

A)  Tracking client progress and engaging clients in the counseling process 
B)  Establishing the accuracy of DSM-IV diagnoses 
C)  Identifying which clients have personality disorders 
D)  Evaluating a client's honesty during counseling

Question 8

A counselor who is considering using a standardized measure needs to consider:

Accepted Answer

A)  The relative costs and benefits involved 
B)  Whether he or she is qualified to use the measure 
C)  The purpose for using the measure 
D)  All of the above

Question 9

What will guide your decision to use a standardized versus an informal assessment method with a client?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What will guide your decision to use...

Question 10

One of the factors to consider when selecting a standardized measure is

Accepted Answer

A)  The client's primary language 
B)  Whether the norms match U.S. Census data regarding the percentage of individuals in the population with the same racial-ethnic background as the client 
C)  Whether the client's religious affiliation was represented in the normative group 
D)  How many times it has been used with individuals who represent the same cultural background as the client

Question 11

When communicating assessment results to clients and family members it is helpful practice to:

Accepted Answer

A)  Discuss technical score such as T scores and standard error of measurement 
B)  Avoid technical jargon when presenting results and elicit client reaction to the results 
C)  Send the assessment report directly to the referring clinician and let that person discuss the report with his or her client 
D)  Provide percentile scores for every scale or subtest that was administered

Question 12

An assessment report will typically include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  The test questions or items 
B)  The length of time the test taker needed to complete it 
C)  Behavioral observations of the client during the assessment 
D)  Item analysis data

Question 13

Item Response Theory is

Accepted Answer

A)  A model of testing that can facilitate adaptive or customized assessments 
B)  An alternative to classical test theory 
C)  Has been used to develop intelligence and psychopathology measures 
D)  All of the above.

Question 14

Recommendations that are part of an assessment report should reflect:

Accepted Answer

A)  An integration of client background and test data 
B)  A logical extension of the summary 
C)  (a) and (b) 
D)  Only evidence based interventions since the assessment was based on standardized measures.

Question 15

Standardized measures can facilitate a client's involvement in counseling by:

Accepted Answer

A)  Helping him or her to reflect on the frequency, duration, and intensity of problems and symptoms 
B)  Helping him or her to put concerns in perspective relative to others 
C)  Helping him or her to reflect on whether change is occurring and what may be causing that 
D)  All of the above

Question 16

When using a standardized measure for the purpose of assessing a client's progress during counseling it is important to select a measure that:

Accepted Answer

A)  Has representative norms 
B)  Has predictive validity 
C)  Is sensitive to measuring change over short periods (e.g. weeks) 
D)  All of the above

Question 17

The concept of test utility refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)  The relative costs and benefits of using a specific test 
B)  A test that is client and counselor friendly 
C)  A test that has adequate construct validity 
D)  A test that has minimal user qualifications associated with it.

Question 18

What are two psychometric factors and two practical factors that should guide the selection of a standardized test or measure?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are two psychometric factors and two...

Question 19

When using a standardized measure for diagnostic purposes it is important to select one that:

Accepted Answer

A)  Has adequate face validity 
B)  Has internal reliability coefficients at or above .70 
C)  Is based on unrepresentative norms 
D)  Has been validated with three or more minority cultures

Exam 15: Putting It All Together