Welcome to COU 660: Welcome to COU 660: Assessment & Assessment &

Evaluation in CounselingEvaluation in Counseling

Introductory MaterialIntroductory Material

Ethical & Legal IssuesEthical & Legal Issues

Selected Historical Developments:Selected Historical Developments:

2200 B.C. Chinese used oral examinations to select 2200 B.C. Chinese used oral examinations to select civil service employees.civil service employees.

1800’s: Francis Galton needed instruments to 1800’s: Francis Galton needed instruments to evaluate the heritability of human characteristics.evaluate the heritability of human characteristics.

Charles Darwin: Theory of EvolutionCharles Darwin: Theory of Evolution 1905 Binet-Simon scales were developed to identify 1905 Binet-Simon scales were developed to identify

students in need of special education in France. This students in need of special education in France. This was followed by the Stanford-Binet of 1916 by Lewis was followed by the Stanford-Binet of 1916 by Lewis Terman.Terman.

Growth of Experimental Psychology in studying Growth of Experimental Psychology in studying individual differences during the late 1800’s and individual differences during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Psychologists needed instruments for early 1900’s. Psychologists needed instruments for measuring the phenomena they were studying.measuring the phenomena they were studying.

WWI: Army Alpha/Beta tests were developed to WWI: Army Alpha/Beta tests were developed to identify recruits with lower levels of intelligence. identify recruits with lower levels of intelligence.

Woodworth Personal Data Sheet was used to Woodworth Personal Data Sheet was used to screen out recruits with severe mental disorders.screen out recruits with severe mental disorders.

Evolution of the U.S. Educational System: Evolution of the U.S. Educational System: demands for achievement evaluation. demands for achievement evaluation.

Development of Civil Service Systems. Development of Civil Service Systems. Government jobs were based on specific abilities Government jobs were based on specific abilities rather than political favors.rather than political favors.

1926: SAT used to screen college applicants.1926: SAT used to screen college applicants. 1942: MMPI.1942: MMPI.

1970’s: Minimal Competency Testing 1970’s: Minimal Competency Testing & Professional Certification Tests. & Professional Certification Tests.

Computer-Assisted Assessment.Computer-Assisted Assessment. Authentic Assessment: Portfolio Authentic Assessment: Portfolio

Assessment.Assessment. Demand for Outcome Evaluation.Demand for Outcome Evaluation.

What is Assessment?What is Assessment?

Any procedure used to gather information about Any procedure used to gather information about an individual.an individual.

Measurement (quantification or differentiation) of Measurement (quantification or differentiation) of human characteristics or behavior.human characteristics or behavior.

Observation of a sample of behavior, followed by Observation of a sample of behavior, followed by inferences about the meaning of that behavior. inferences about the meaning of that behavior.

EvaluationEvaluation: : process of attaching value process of attaching value judgments to performance on a measure. judgments to performance on a measure.

Uses of AssessmentUses of Assessment

Self-understanding. Self-understanding. Academic & Career Planning.Academic & Career Planning. Selection & Placement Decisions.Selection & Placement Decisions. Certification Decisions.Certification Decisions. Problem Identification & Intervention Planning.Problem Identification & Intervention Planning. Outcome or Performance Evaluation.Outcome or Performance Evaluation. Treatment Itself: feedback may actually reduce Treatment Itself: feedback may actually reduce

distressing symptoms (research by Finn et al.).distressing symptoms (research by Finn et al.). Research: improve our understanding of the Research: improve our understanding of the

human condition.human condition.

Key DefinitionsKey Definitions

ConstructConstruct: an abstract characteristic of an : an abstract characteristic of an individual that cannot be measured or individual that cannot be measured or observed directly (e.g., intelligence or observed directly (e.g., intelligence or anxiety). We usually anxiety). We usually constructconstruct or infer the or infer the meaning of the characteristic from a sample meaning of the characteristic from a sample of behavior.of behavior.

Standardization:Standardization: (1) Professionally (1) Professionally developed, (2) Representative sample, developed, (2) Representative sample, (3) Uniform procedures for administering & (3) Uniform procedures for administering & scoring the instrument, and (4) typically scoring the instrument, and (4) typically norm-referenced interpretation procedures.norm-referenced interpretation procedures.

Cognitive vs. Affective InstrumentsCognitive vs. Affective Instruments

CognitiveCognitive Measures of Measures of

maximummaximum performance.performance.

Examples:Examples:

1.1. Intelligence.Intelligence.

2.2. Aptitude.Aptitude.

3.3. Achievement.Achievement.

AffectiveAffective Measures of Measures of typicaltypical

performance.performance. Examples:Examples:

1.1. Personality.Personality.

2.2. Mood.Mood.

3.3. Problems/Problems/Symptoms.Symptoms.

4.4. Interests.Interests.

5.5. Values.Values.

Legal & Ethical Issues Legal & Ethical Issues Involved in Assessment & Involved in Assessment &

Testing Testing Competent use of standardized or Competent use of standardized or

clinical assessment techniques.clinical assessment techniques.1.1. Knowledge of basic measurement & statistical Knowledge of basic measurement & statistical

concepts.concepts.

2.2. Understand uses & limitations of instrument.Understand uses & limitations of instrument.

3.3. Compliance with standardization procedures. Compliance with standardization procedures.

4.4. Conscientious scoring & recording.Conscientious scoring & recording.

5.5. Proper test use & interpretation.Proper test use & interpretation.

6.6. Understanding the validity evidence behind an Understanding the validity evidence behind an instrument.instrument.

Copyright violations.Copyright violations. Test security.Test security. Admonition to rely on multiple Admonition to rely on multiple

sources for making clinical or sources for making clinical or educational decisions. educational decisions.

Multicultural issue: use of Multicultural issue: use of appropriate norm groups.appropriate norm groups.

Informed consent: Informed consent: Why is the Why is the assessment being done and how will assessment being done and how will the results be used? the results be used?

Right to receive appropriate feedback.Right to receive appropriate feedback. Confidentiality & releasing information.Confidentiality & releasing information. Proper Diagnosis of DSM-IV mental Proper Diagnosis of DSM-IV mental

disorders.disorders. Should a counselor refrain from Should a counselor refrain from

making diagnoses that might harm a making diagnoses that might harm a client?client?

Limitations to AssessmentLimitations to Assessment

Ethical Codes.Ethical Codes. Legal Restrictions on Testing.Legal Restrictions on Testing. Personal Competence & Scope of Personal Competence & Scope of

Practice.Practice. Purchaser Qualifications established Purchaser Qualifications established

by test publishers. by test publishers.