Other Testing Issues Chapter 7 Red book

Professional Competency Associated with the Assessment Process Standards can come from many different sources Main ones coming from NCTRC Minimum standards are disclosed in the NCTRC Certification Standards, Part V: National Job Analysis Table 7.1, Page 135 Standards related to assessment and measurement Understanding procedures associated with assessment Knowing processes associated with evaluation and documentation used in the course of treatment Comprehending processes and procedures associated with quality assurance

Competencies related to Procedures A procedure is the act of following a predetermined sequence of actions to cause the purposeful manipulation of specific conditions Observing a client’s behaviors Interviewing clients Assessing a client’s functional skills The administration of specific leisure assessment instruments Testing tools with specific procedures (pg. 136) Testing tools with more “guidelines” (pg. 136) The administration of other (not field specific) inventories or questionnaires NCTRC Cert standards associated with procedures page 136

Competencies related to Process A process is an active, dynamic situation in which a direction or intent can be discerned Unlike the rigid structure provided by a procedure, processes associated with the initiation, conduct, and conclusion of an assessment are a fluid course of action guided by basic rules and models. NCTRC Cert standards associated with Process page 137

Competencies related to Basic Knowledge Ability to assess domains NCTRC Cert standards Page 137

Competencies Beyond Knowledge & Skill Clinical reasoning The use of technical knowledge, learned facts, personal experience, and personal judgment to analyze a situation and reach a conclusion about the appropriate course of action When your education can not provide a previously learned answer to the clinical situation presented Examples on top left of page 138 Expert Judgment Synthesizing information held by the therapist to predict likely impacts of treatment or variables in the environment Examples on bottom left of page 138 Ambiguity When the evidence or situation can logically have two or more different explanations, hiding the cause or making unclear the actions that the professional should take. Review facts, use logic Examples on right side of page 138

Competencies Associated with the Assessment of Quality Assessment of quality assurance entails skills and knowledge related to procedures, processes, and holding the underlying knowledge that is required to implement those procedures and processes With the implementation of standardized multidisciplinary assessments Many contain quality measures Scoring patterns that can identify potential problems in client care RAI/MDS IRF/PAI

Boundaries When boundaries and kept, no client is offered special favors Violations of professional boundaries impacts the Assessment process Ongoing assessment Evaluation Codependency Example pg. 141

Adapting Tests It is critical that you include a summary of the specific adaptations made along with any test results obtained.

Behaviors that Impact Reliability of Test Scores There are some situations where the reliability of test scores may be lower, not because of the structure of the test, but because of the actions of the client being assessed Client Cooperation Two studies indicated that 30% of variance was caused by lack of client cooperation Client’s Inability to Report Accurately Issues to consider (page 145)

Cultural Issues with Tests Content not universal in scope Narrow cultural context Language Barrier Integrating Cultural Sensitivity into Practice

Trait vs. State Trait State A characteristic that tends to be long-lasting and enduring. Often used to refer to physical characteristics Traits related to attitudes tend to be learned patterns of thought, beliefs, and action that may also have some genetic basis Examples pg. 149 State Relatively short-lived emotional responses or physical functions that are a direct result of a situation or something in the environment Examples pg. 149 & 151 Importance of disclosing suspected state vs. trait differences Example pg. 151