Selecting an Assessment Instrument

what are 5 main factors in selecting an assessment instrument?

• the reason we are carrying out a given assessment → what are we trying to figure out?

• the nature of the individual being assessed → does it make sense for them?

• the quality of any given tool under consideration → reliability and validity

• our own preferences and theoretical frameworks → certain tests we like and feel are good

• the practicality of using a particular tool → using only a certain portion of a test, length of the test, does the place you work have it

describe reasons for giving an assessment to a patient

• measuring their baseline for assessment of change

• measuring expressive and receptive lang, strengths and weaknesses, spoken and written modalities

• nonverbal cognition (memory, executive functioning)

• motor speech

• type of aphasia

• social engagement, self-esteem, coping strategies, quality of life

• to document outcomes across a group of people, such as at a certain facility

describe why we take the individual patient into account when selecting an assessment

• in the appropriate languages, accounts for dialectal differences

• normed and standardized on a sample with a similar condition

• normed and standardized on a sample with similar attributes (age, etc)

• appropriate difficulty level

• tests the constructs you wish to assess

• controls for confounding factors

• allows for alternative response modes

• would instructions and tasks potentially confound results?

describe how we consider the quality of an assessment when selecting one

• want a substantial normative sample

• want a well defined normative sample

• want psychometric properties of subtests verified to stand alone

• want multiple forms with high consistency

describe how we consider our own preferences and theoretical framework when selecting an assessment

• do you respect and value the conceptual framework?

• is it based on a theoretical framework that you favor?

describe how we consider practicality when selecting an assessment

• meets standards for billable diagnostic services

• available where you work

• time considerations

• clear instructions