Testing children : a practitioner's guide to the assessment of mental development in infants and young children

This book aims to help the practitioner derive maximum benefit from the use of individual norm-based tests of mental development. It includes, but also goes beyond, an explanation of the psychometric expertise required to use such tests. Beginning with an exploration of the nature of mental development itself, the author explains how the very presence of the assessor impacts on the assessment process both in terms of perceptual idiosyncrasies and in terms of the effectiveness with which the interpersonal dynamics between child, carer and assessor are managed. This is a holistic guide to skilled observation, accurate interpretation, and effective reporting, which equips the reader to derive accurate conclusions in the best interests of the particular needs of the child under assessment. Testing Children Table of Contents Introduction 1 The Challenge of Evaluation Making Sense of Information A Brief History of Mental Measurement What Test Scores Do not Measure Points for Reflection 2 The Concept of Mind An Evolutionary View The Mental Legacy Soul, Mind and Thought Body and Mind 3 The Psychological Route Issues in Communication Two Different Faces of Psychology Gateways to the Mental Domain Underlying Processes in the Mental Domain The Structure of Thinking (see also Appendix 1) 4 About Numerical Values of Mental Ability The Meaning of Numbers Norm-Referenced Testing What Do We Need to Know? The Concept of Mental Age Understanding the Nature of Psychometric Tests More About the Process of Test Development IQ in Relation to the Normal Distribution Curve Some important points to bear in mind Why the Need for Precision? 5 About Individual Tests of Mental Development Introduction Test Content Structure Packaging Section Three: Issues in Application 6 Common Errors During the Assessment Interview Introduction The Assessment Setting The Social Skills of Engagement Parental Preparation Test Administration Scoring The Care of Test Materials Some Practical Suggestions for Maintaining the Flow of the Test Session 7 The Task of Observation Introduction Issues in Observation How to Improve Observation Skills 8 How Skilled Observation Assists Evaluation Introduction The Area of Vision (see also Appendix 6 and 8) The Area of Touch (see Appendix 7 on the hands) 9 Facilitators and Promoters in the Developmental Process Introduction The Child with Emergent Skills The Child as a Whole The Quality of Parenting 10 Communicating Findings: How to Write a Report Introduction The Contents of the Report 11 Some Memorable Moments During Assessments Introduction Motherly Love Shaken and Stirred Finally Satisfied Epilogue Beyond the Finishing Line: A Wide Angle Glance Appendices Appendix 1: How We Make Sense of Information Received: A Possible Model for the Structure of Thinking Appendix 2: Nature and Function of Measurement Appendix 3: The Gaussian Curve and Equivalent Values Appendix 4: Table of IQ Ranges and their SD Points and Descriptive Levels Appendix 5: Notes on Play Appendix 6: Language Development Appendix 7: The Hand (Notes derived from the book “Touching for Knowing” by Hatwell, Streri, & Gentaz, 2003) Appendix 8: Facial Expressions References "This book aims to help the practitioner derive maximum benefit from the use of individual norm-based tests of mental development. It includes but goes beyond an explanation of the psychometric expertise required to use such tests. Beginning with an exploration of the nature of mental development itself, the author explains how the very presence of the assessor impacts on the assessment process both in terms of perceptual idiosyncrasies and in terms of the effectiveness with which the interpersonal dynamics between child, carer, and assessor are managed. This is a holistic guide to skilled observation, accurate interpretation, and effective reporting which equips the reader to derive accurate conclusions in the best interests of the particular needs of the child under assessment."--BOOK JACKET