Assessing Behaviors Regarded As Problematic

The author offers practical strategies for gathering and analysing information about behaviors, in partnership with the individual concerned, in order to gain a useful understanding of why a particular behavior occurs. Case histories, with corresponding behavior plans, clearly demonstrate the real-life application of assessment methods.

People with developmental disabilities sometimes behave in ways that others, or they themselves, regard as problematic. This original book is about what practitioners can do to make sense of behaviors, in order to support clients more effectively. The author offers practical strategies for gathering and analysing information about behaviors, in partnership with the individual concerned, in order to gain a useful understanding of why a particular behavior occurs. The inclusion of case histories, with corresponding behavior plans, clearly demonstrates the real-life application of assessment methods. With its strong emphasis on the importance of establishing equitable, respectful relationships between professionals and people with learning disabilities, this is a book that professionals involved in the lives of people with developmental disabilities will find invaluable.

Ecological Assessment of Child Problem Behavior: A Clinical Package for Home, School, and Institutional Settings discusses sampling methods to assess the problem child's behavioral interactions in the environment of the real world. The book focuses on the following facets of ecological assessment: (1) format of interview for the stage during the observational sampling procedures; (2) use of an observational procedure by adult members of the child's natural community; and (3) the employment of a standardized category coding system. In general, the book deals with devising a standardized category codes that will be used in direct observations of a clinical nature. The book shows that investigators of various theoretical merits attempt to construct category systems to systematize coding behavior such as those of Heyns and Lippit (1954), of Baker and Wright (1955) or of McGrew (1972). The authors enumerate the category codes to describe different aspects of children's social environments and their common behaviors that result from these settings. Behavioral scientists, psychiatrists, child psychologists, students and professors in the sciences of human behavior, particularly concerning children, are encouraged to read this book.

A survey of the instruments and methods that are available for assessment of psychopathology and behavior problems in persons with mental retardation. Instruments are described and evaluated from a methodological perspective.

Psychologists offer an increasing variety of services to the public. Among these services, psychological assessment of personality and behavior continues to be a central activity. One main reason is that other mental health professionals often do not possess a high level of competence in this area. And when dealing with children and adolescents, psychological assessment seems to take on an even greater role. Therefore, it follows that comprehensive graduate-level instruction in assessment should be a high priority for educators of psychologists who will work with these youth. This textbook is organized into three sections, consistent with the authors’ approach to teaching. Part I provides students with the psychological knowledge base necessary for modern assessment practice, including historical perspectives, measurement science, child psychopathology, ethical, legal, and cultural issues, and the basics of beginning the assessment process. Part II gives students a broad review of the specific assessment methods used by psychologists, accompanied by specific advice regarding the usage and strengths and weaknesses of each method. In Part III, we help students perform some of the most sophisticated of assessment practices: integrating and communicating assessment results and infusing assessment practice with knowledge of child development and psychopathology to assess some of the most common types of behavioral and emotional disorders in youth. A text focusing on assessment practices must be updated every four to six years to keep pace with advances in test development. For example, several of the major tests reviewed in the text, such as the Behavioral Assessment System for Children and the Child Behavior Checklist, have undergone major revisions since the publication of the last edition making the current content outdated. Further, another major test, the Conners’ Rating Scales, is undergoing substantial revisions that should be completed before publication of the next edition. Finally, the evidence for the validity of the tests and the recommendations for their appropriate use evolve as research accumulates and requires frequent updating to remain current. For example, there was a special issue of the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology published focusing on evidenced-based assessment of the major forms of childhood psychopathology that will need to be integrated into the chapters in Part 3. This latter point reflects an important trend in the field that should influence the marketing of the book. That is, there are several initiatives being started in all of the major areas of applied psychology (e.g., school, clinical, and counseling) to promote evidenced-based assessment practices. These initiatives have all emphasized the need to enhance the training of graduate students in this approach to assessment. This has been the orientation of this textbook from its first edition: that is, Clinical Assessment of Child and Adolescent Personality and Behavior has focused on using research to guide all recommendations for practice. The ability of the textbook to meet this training need should be an important focus of marketing the book to training programs across all areas of applied psychology.

This handbook is a comprehensive collection of measures and assessment tools intended for use by researchers and clinicians that work with people with problem eating behaviors, obese clients, and the associated psychological issues that underlie these problems.