The mental measurement yearbook gives a review of assessments used in psychology. There are some assessments not covered in the class using this yearbook. These assessments are used to measure the same psychological construct in the same client population. Some of them are used to measure adult depression and others to measure child self-concept.
The first assessment is the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children (TSCYC)
General characteristics
Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children is designed to determine the trauma symptoms in children. It is designed to measure acute and chronic posttraumatic stress and other related psychological symptomatology. The Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children is a ninety item, paper, and pencil test.
Appropriate ages and description
The items are rated depending on how often the caretaker believes the child experiences each item in the previous month. It is administered to parents or caretakers or in groups. The main reason for administering the test is to determine behaviors, feelings, or experiences related to being a victim of or exposed to trauma in children. The measure produces scores for two validity scales that is Response level and Atypical Response. It also generates the eight clinical rankings, which include Anxiety (ANX), Depression (DEP), Anger and Aggression (ANG), Posttraumatic Stress-Intrusion(PTS-I), Posttraumatic Stress-Avoidance (PTS-AV), Posttraumatic Stress-Arousal (PTS-AR), Posttraumatic Stress-Total (PTS-TOT), Dissociation (DIS), and Sexual Concerns (SC).
Additionally, the response level validity scale assesses the tendency of showing a child as psychologically healthy at times, and the atypical response scale shows the child to be disturbed. Although the score measure test can be administered by nonclinical staff, only trained technicians should interpret the results. The test has no limited time; the respondents circle in different answer sheets. The numerical responses are then transferred into a grid and broken down by scale.
However, most scales give a raw score generated by the addition of the numerical responses. When a scale has more than three items left blank, the overall score of that specific scale is not computed. The response level scale score is calculated by counting how many things were rated one or blank. The posttraumatic stress-total scale score is calculated by adding the raw scores of the posttraumatic intrusion. After obtaining each scale score, the evaluator plots the scores on a profile sheet corresponding to the gender and age (3-4, 5-9, 10-12 years). The scores are then compared using the T-scores, whose average is 50.
Number of items and time for completion
To complete one test, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The kit is a 90- item, pencil and paper test with an introductory kit. It consists of a professional manual, 25item booklets, 25 hand-scorable answer sheets, 25 profile forms for children, both male and female aging between 3-4 years, 25 profiles for children of 5-9 years, and the other 25 profile for those children aging between 10-12 years. It has validity scales and clinical scales. The materials are well designed and easy to use.
Education required to administer
When administering the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children, the nonclinical staff may assist and score the measure while the trained clinicians interpret results. This is because sometimes, on a scale, some may be blank or less than three. The clinicians need to be trained on how to read the scales; the evaluators are trained on how to transfer the numerical scores onto a grid, calculate the scores, and compute the scores. Additionally, they are prepared to compare the scores with the T-scores.
Validity and reliability
Some of the samples are cited for the reliability and validity of the data. The internal consistency reliability for the Response Level scale is relatively high for three examples. The clinical scales have strong alpha coefficients used to determine test-retest reliability. From the responses of caretakers, all scales have received higher scores showing that they believe that their child experienced trauma and found them responsive, thus making them reliable. Discriminant validity was also assessed in different studies to determine divergent and concurrent validity. The concurrent validity is found with other measures used, including CBCL, CSBI, and CDC. The instrument shows adequate reliability and truth to be used as a practical tool as part of assessing a child’s level of functioning following a traumatic event witnessed or experienced. Although the caretakers might want to underestimate its functioning, the validity scales assure that the scores are valid. The PTSD worksheet gives a more data-driven approach to DSM diagnosis.
Purchasing information
an introductory kit costs $358, including a professional manual (2005, 61 pages), 25 item booklets, 25 hand-scorable answer sheets, 25 profile forms for male and female of ages 3-4 years, 25 profile forms
for male and female of ages 5-9 years, and 25 profile forms for male and female aging 10-12 years; $529 per software (CD-ROM) with on-screen help and quick start guide; $85 per professional manual either printed or digital; $55 per 25 reusable item booklets; $79 per 25 hand-scorable answer sheets; $55 per 25 profile forms (specify age range).
The second assessment is the My Worst Experience Scale.
General characteristics
My Worst Experiment Scale is designed to assess youngsters’ reports of their most stressful experiences and their behaviors, feelings, and thoughts associated with those experiences. Its acronym is MWES. MWES consists of two main parts: part one, the respondent being asked questions, and part two, the children read some behavioral statements. However, this assessment produces two significant scores. Inconsistent Responding yields the first one, and the other is made using the T scores.
Appropriate age and description
My Worst Experience Scale is designed to give youngsters reports concerning their most stressful experiences and feelings and thoughts associated with them. It is administered to people of ages 9-18. It has 12 scores, which included IV PTSD Criterion subscales used when determining the event’s impact, re-experience of the trauma, increased arousal, avoidance, and numbing. Symptoms scales are used to assess depression hopelessness, somatic symptoms, and hypervigilance. Although the current children’s PTSD measures were created to determine the community’s impact, for example, crime, victimization, and environmental disasters, the MWES’ initial interests were of the effects of corporal punishment on children, school padding, which led in PTSD symptoms in children. The original version of MWES was explicitly made for a school setting, but the new version is expanded beyond a school context. The Student Alienation and Trauma Survey are included in the MWES test manual. The final selection of the test items is based on case studies of the victims, research literature, and analysis by professionals. The test is based on contemporary views on PTSD in children and scientific studies that provide a strong rationale for test design. The test is easy to administer and can be computer-administered. It is issued to an individual or a group. The INC index helps to eliminate test protocols that may not show the child’s true feelings or contaminated. This test is administered to children who have undergone parents’ death, loss of a pet, family fights, and school problems. The test is done by first asking the victim or the child about their worst experience. Secondly, the child reads 105 behavioral statements and asked how frequently they have experienced that feeling.
Number of items and time for completion
My Worst Experience Scale test kit consists of Auto score answer forms, manuals, and 100 alienation and trauma survey forms. It takes 20 to 30 minutes to administer the test. The test manual describes the development of the measure, administration and scoring, interpretation, standardization, and test characteristics.
Training required for the administrator
MWES is easy to administer; however, the administrators are trained on how to ask the respondents questions. They are also trained on obtaining the scores using an index in Inconsistent Responding (INC) and the T scores. The administrators are taught how to administer the tests using computers.
Validity and reliability
MWES is a well-constructed instrument with good reliability and adequate validity evidence. This scale is supported by well-designed reliability and validity studies, no information regarding the false positives identified by this test, and no data regarding the sensitivity of the clinical intervention measure aimed at addressing childhood trauma. The validations do not include any research showing how this test compares with others with a similar stated purpose. MWES has ample written items to sample the domains of interest, and the authors give initial reliability and validity statistics.
Purchasing information
MWES costs $115 per test kit including 25 Autoscore(tm) answer forms, manual (78 pages), and 100 school alienation and trauma survey forms; $45 per manual; $49.95 per 25 Autoscore(tm) answer forms; $24.50 per 100 school alienation and trauma survey forms; $250 per 25-use disk; $15 per PC answer booklet; $12.50 per mail-in answer booklet; volume discounts available