1. ASSESSMENT CONCERNS KNR 279

2. Stumbo, 2001 In the 60-plus years since the origins of the profession, it seems little progress in therapeutic recreation assessment has been made. Most TRSs are not receiving adequate training in the processes of intervention, assessment, and outcome measurement.

3. Interest Inventories List of activities that clients like, are involved in, or interested in Dominant emphasis on interest inventories in TR Despite evidence and concerns, TR professionals continue to use as major or only assessment Stumbo, 1993/94

4. Interest Inventories “One type of assessment that has little chance of successful use in intervention programs is the activity interest inventory” (p. 11) Activity interest inventories “maybe detrimental to efforts aimed at accountability” of TR services (p. 11) Stumbo, 1993/94

5. Interest Inventories One of the most abused and least understood assessments Too simplistic Assumes interests translate into skills and participation Does not address motivation Assumes more interests are necessary

6. Interest Inventories Assumes old skills always need to be adapted and new skills need to be learned Even if 50 activities are listed, they are a small representation of the diversity of activities Stumbo, 1993/94

7. Interest Inventories – Appropriate Use Client has choice about participating in programs Client has ability to make informed choices Intervention is not the sole intent of the program Long-term care agencies or diversionary programs

8. Interest Inventories – Appropriate Use Community-based programs Leisure skills Recreation participation Referral to community resources Stumbo, 1993/94 STILAP

9. Assessment Concerns Lack of adequate number of assessments (fewer than 50) Not enough commercial instruments reflect program content or specific populations Lack multicultural sensitivity So, what happens? Buy an assessment that’s not appropriate Borrow an assessment from related field Develop own assessment

10. Assessment Concerns Lack of high quality assessments Validation problems Use of assessment for purposes not validated, e.g., research Use of interest inventories

11. Assessment Concerns Lack of assessment resources Hard time finding information about assessments Cost of assessments Specialist competence Not trained in assessment, research methods, & leisure behavior

12. Assessment Concerns Measuring desired characteristics or behaviors Leisure behavior and independent functioning are hard to define & measure Not refined to measure low levels of functioning Not sensitive to measure small changes in behavior

13. Assessment Concerns Content of assessment does not match program Lack of protocols (development, conduct, score, interpret) Not following protocols Staff not trained properly GIGO or garbage in, garbage out

14. Assessment Concerns Professional concerns Shortened length of stay Workforce reductions & increased job duties Interdisciplinary assessments limit reported TR information

15. TR Assessments What was your reaction to reading about the state of the art of TR assessments? What can be done?