Behavioral assessment

Behavioral assessment

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  Behavioral Assessment
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  Focus Questions: 1. Whyis behavioral assessment an ongoing process? 2. What are the major differences between behavioral assessment and traditional assessment? 3. What factors affect the reliability and validity of observations 4. What is the SORC model, and how it is applied to clinical problems 5. What is the importance of cognitive variables in behavioral assessment?
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  Behavioral Assessment refers toan approach to understanding and changing behavior by identifying the context in which it occurs. It is a form of measurement based on objective recording of the person's behavior.
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  The Behavioral Tradition Sample Versus Sign  Functional Analysis  Behavioral Assessment as an Ongoing Process
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  1. Sample vs.Sign  In behavioral assessment, test / interview responses are interpreted as “samples” of behavior that are thought to generalize to other situations  In traditional assessment (even psychodynamic), we interpret test data as “signs” of internal processes
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  2. Functional Analysis(also called Functional Behavioral Analysis)  Derived from Skinner’s work with SR (stimulus-response) learning  SORC model
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  SORC model forconceptualizing a behavior  S = stimulus or “antecedent” factors which occur before target behavior  O = organismic variables relevant to target behavior  R = the response = the target behavior  C = consequences of target behavior
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  Example of SORCmodel  S – Stimulus: a child is ignored by her peers in class  (O – Organismic: the child has previously been diagnosed with ADHD  R – Response: She increases the volume of her voice (i.e., yells)  C – Consequences: her peers pay attention to her, some role their eyes
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  3. Is anongoing & active process, through all points of behavioral therapy: initial assessment, therapy, and evaluation of improvement  Assessment is an ongoing process in almost all clinical orientations, in that it’s almost always in the “back” of clinician’s mind.  Ex: Hmm, I thought Mr. Z had depression, but now he’s exhibiting more anxious symptoms; I wonder if this is more a mixed anxiety-depression sydrome.  In behavioral assessment, is a planned & integral part of entire therapeutic process
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  Table:9-1 Differences BetweenBehavioral and Traditional Approach to Assessment Behavioral Psychodynamic 1. Assumptions 1. Conception of Personality Personality constructs mainly employed to summarize specific behavior patterns, if at all. Personality as a reflection of enduring underlying states of traits. 2. Causes of Behavior Maintaining conditions sought in current environment Intrapsychic (within the individual) 2. Implications 1. Role of Behavior Important as a sample of person’s repertoire in specific situation Behavior assumes importance only insofar as it indexes underlying causes 2. Role of history Relatively unimportant, except for (ex. to provide a retrospective baseline) Crucial in that present conditions seen as a product of the past
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  The End 