What is behavioral assessment?
A strategy for evaluating the child’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in specific settings to formulate hypotheses about the nature of the problem and potential solutions
Haynes & Heiby, 2004
What are target behaviors in behavioral assessment?
The primary concerns identified by the clinician or observer regarding the child’s behavior
Target behaviors help determine influencing factors.
What is the ABCs of assessment framework?
A framework consisting of:
* A = Antecedents
* B = Behavior(s) of interest
* C = Consequences
This framework helps organize assessment findings.
In Felicia’s case, what does the antecedent refer to?
Whenever Felicia’s mother asks her to go to school
This is the event that immediately precedes Felicia’s behavior.
What does the behavior refer to in Felicia’s case?
Felicia complains that she has stomach pains and refuses to go to school
This behavior is a response to the antecedent.
What is the consequence in Felicia’s ABCs of assessment?
Her mother lets Felicia stay home
This consequence reinforces Felicia’s behavior of refusing to go to school.
What is functional analysis of behavior?
A systematic approach to organizing and using assessment information in terms of antecedents, behaviors, and consequences
Rispoli et al., 2016
What is the goal of functional analysis?
To identify factors contributing to a child’s problem behaviors, thoughts, and feelings and develop hypotheses for intervention
It includes changing antecedents or consequences to observe behavior changes.
What are global behavior checklists?
Tools used to rate the presence or absence of a variety of child behaviors or their frequency and intensity
They provide a standard way to gather information about child behavior.
What is the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)?
A leading checklist for assessing behavioral concerns in children and adolescents ages 6 to 18
Developed by Thomas Achenbach and widely used in treatment settings.
What is the importance of standardization in psychological testing?
It allows for individuals to be tested under the same conditions and compared to a defined reference group
Standardization helps ensure fairness and consistency.
What is developmental testing used for?
To assess infants and young children for screening, diagnosis, and evaluation of early development
It helps identify children at risk for later mental health concerns.
What defines cognitive ability in the context of psychological assessment?
The overall capacity of an individual to understand and cope with the world around them
This definition is attributed to David Wechsler.
What are some commonly used intelligence tests for children?
Each test has its own strengths and weaknesses.
True or False: Test scores should be interpreted in isolation.
False
Test scores should be interpreted in the context of other assessment information.
What are some concerns regarding standardized tests?
These concerns have led to improvements in test development.
What is the WISC-V?
The WISC-V is an individually administered intelligence test for children that produces a Full Scale IQ score derived from five Primary Index scales: Verbal Comprehension, Visual Spatial, Fluid Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed.
What does FSIQ stand for?
Full Scale IQ
What are the five Primary Index scales of the WISC-V?
What is the significance of the FSIQ in the WISC-V?
The FSIQ should be considered first over the individual indices when interpreting the WISC-V, unless there is a significant discrepancy among the composite scores.
What is the purpose of achievement testing?
Achievement testing aims to assess an examinee’s attainment of knowledge or skills.
What is the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test Third Edition (WIAT-III)?
The WIAT-III assesses the academic achievement of individuals aged 4 through 85, covering a broad range of academic skills.
What is the main premise of projective testing?
Projective tests present ambiguous stimuli to assess the child’s unconscious thoughts and feelings.
Name a common projective test used with children.
Rorschach inkblot test