Behavioral Consultation as a Process for Linking the Assessment and Treatment of Social Skills

There has been recent interest in social skills assessment and treatment among researchers and practitioners. The research bases in these areas are expanding rapidly, and the identification of valid assessment methods and effective intervention strategies is promising. However, few researchers have identified ways m which social skills assessment and intervention can be linked in a practical manner. Likewise, the process by which services are delivered is rarely addressed. The purpose of this article is to present a model by which the interaction between social skills assessment and intervention can be enhanced, with a focus on the problem-solving process. One effective and efficient manner of providing services to socially unskilled children is through an indirect model of service delivery; that of behavioral consultation. Behavioral consultation is a four-stage problem-solving model that involves the cooperative efforts of two or more persons to clarify a student's needs and develop and implement appropriate strategies for intervention. This article presents the objectives and procedures of each stage of behavioral consultation as a process to facilitate accurate problem identification and effective problem resolution, with the goal of linking social skills assessment directly to treatment.     

Human Behavior and the Social Environment

This article views assessment as generic to all professional social work practice and suggests that locating the teaching of the theoretical basis of assessment in the Human Behavior and Social Environment (HBSE) sequence helps to assure the consistency of a common knowledge base for all students. The multiplicity of ideas necessary to teach the understanding of human functioning in a complex environment presents a challenge to the educator to develop a method of ordering and selecting theories which can more effectively inform professional practice and preserve professional values. The construct of the Developmental Wheel (see Figure 1 which encourages the use of a broad range of data) is presented as one method of organizing the curriculum of the HBSE sequence. It allows for more dynamic integration of social psychological phenomena and helps to ground discrete methods of intervention in a common theoretical framework.     

Disruptive Pupils and Teacher Stress

Teachers have identified a number of stress situations in their work with disruptive children. They experience insecurity because of the unpredictability of the children's behaviour. They feel vulnerable as they doubt the effectiveness of their coping resources. They are frustrated in their attempts to establish good communications with each other and with the professional workers outside their schools. Residential workers report additional demands because of their feelings of isolation and limited social relationships.

Staff responses to these stress situations can be grouped into three main categories: (i) behavioural; (ii) emotional; (iii) psychosomatic. Their recommendations for the reduction of stress emphasize the importance of group support and good inter‐professional communications. Some suggestions have been made to promote the development of healthy schools in which staff can find opportunities for personal and professional growth. Further explorations need to be made in the identification and development of inter‐professional teamwork skills.     

幼儿园教师专业认同的基本结构与理论模型

专业认同是教师专业成长的起点,也是教师专业发展的动力之源.研究幼儿园教师专业认同的理论模型和基本结构具有重要的理论与实践意义.本研究拟在确认幼儿园教师专业认同结构要素的基础上,通过因素分析来建构幼儿园教师专业认同的理论模型.为此,本研究选取了604名幼儿园教师作为有效样本,用探索性因素分析考察问卷的结构要素,用验证性因素分析考察问卷的构念效度.结果发现:通过探索性因素分析可以确定幼儿园教师专业认同的六维结构要素,分别是目标确信、情感归属、投入意愿、胜任效能、持续承诺和人际支持;利用结构方程模型的验证性因素分析检验问卷的效度,表明问卷六维结构与数据显示拟合良好:问卷的内部一致性系数、分半信度分别为0.90和0.81,说明问卷结构清晰,信度、效度理想,可以作为测评幼儿园教师专业认同水平的有效工具.     

Assessing Intervention Responsiveness: Conceptual and Technical Issues

Implementing an intervention responsiveness approach to the identification of learning disabilities (LD) requires specification of procedures for the assessment process. In this article, the author uses examples in the literature to explore conceptual and technical issues associated with options for specifying three assessment components: the timing of the measurement of student response to intervention; the criterion for demarcating learning as inadequate (below which students are identified as LD); and the nature of the intervention. Then, the author summarizes research contrasting alternative assessment methods within an intervention responsiveness approach to LD identification. Conclusions are drawn, and future related work is described.     

Not Yet Identified: The knowledge,skills, and training needs of early years professionals in relation to children's speech and language development

This article draws on a research project, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, looking at early years professionals' knowledge about speech and language development and their confidence and skills in assessing normal and delayed language development. Key findings, based on 829 questionnaires and 50 interviews, reveal very limited training in speech and language difficulties as part of initial training and low levels of post-qualification training in children's speech and language. Practitioners are aware of the need for early identification of children's communication difficulties but lack the tools with which to perform this identification. In order to provide a context for these results, a content analysis of the curricula from a variety of initial training routes explored the extent to which there was a focus explicitly on assessment and identification of children with speech and language difficulties. The role of professional journals and key texts in supporting practitioners in making judgements about children's language development was also investigated. The access to, and provision of, post-qualification training to support the assessment process is identified as a key area for development.     

Building Pre-service Teacher Capacity to Use External Assessment Data: An Intervention Study

In recent years, the use of data to inform instructional decision making has become a particularly prominent facet of K–12 educators' professional practice. However, research estimates limited opportunities for preservice teachers to learn how to use data, including standardized test data, for such purposes. In response, this article describes the results of a pretest–posttest study of a 6-hour standardized assessment data use intervention for preservice teachers. The facilitated, collaborative, and highly structured assessment course-embedded intervention engaged preservice teachers in asking and answering four different kinds of questions (e.g., achievement strengths and weaknesses, instructional implications) at five different student levels (e.g., individual, subgroup, school) with external assessment data presented in tables, charts, and score reports. Findings—which include highly favorable preservice teacher perceptions of the intervention's impact on their data-driven decision making skills, and changes in their self-efficacy and data interpretation skills—indicate that the intervention holds promise as a preservice teacher learning mechanism.     

Assessment of Children's Social Skills: Recent Developments,Best Practices,and New Directions

This article provides an overview of some of the recent developments in assessing social skills of children and youth, as well as a discussion of "best practices" in conducting assessment and linking assessment to effective intervention. Naturalistic behavioral observation and behavior rating scales are proposed as the 2 assessment methods that should be considered primary or "first-line" choices for social skills assessment. A review of some specific tools that have been developed within these 2 assessment methods is provided. Interviewing and sociometric techniques, although not necessarily primary methods of assessment for children's social skills, sometimes may be an important part of an assessment design, or "second-line" choices. Projective-expressive techniques or objective self-report instruments for assessing children's social skills sometimes may help illuminate the overall assessment results but should never be used as primary assessment methods for social skills; thus, these methods are considered "third-line" methods for this purpose. Six best-practices recommendations, all of which are supported by previous empirical research, are offered for improving social skills assessment efforts. Finally, conclusions are drawn regarding the current state of the art in social skills assessment, as well as implications for future directions in this area. Clearly, the challenge facing researchers and practitioners who are concerned with this area will be to make assessment "functional" and link it to intervention more effectively.     

Relational aggression: Understanding,identifying, and responding in schools

Relational aggression, harm through injury or manipulation of a relationship, has become fashionable, particularly in the popular press. Mental health professionals in schools can better serve students when they understand what is known about relational aggression, how it influences social behavior, and how it is related to children's well‐being. This article discusses the definition, identification, and consequences of relational aggression. Available intervention programs are introduced, and future directions for research, assessment, and intervention are addressed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 43: 297–312, 2006.     

论特殊教育中社会工作支持服务的拓展

全纳教育的理念要求我们对特殊儿童提供预防、教育、康复、职业训练等领域的综合服务,社会工作成为其重要的专业支持。基于英美国家以及港台地区的经验分析,我们发现社会工作在特殊儿童的筛选评估、专业服务、团队沟通以及政策倡导等方面都发挥着重要作用。我国特教体系中社会工作支持服务的拓展需要进一步完善特教政策,促进专业融合,拓展实务模式以及加强社会宣传。     

Moderating New Zealand’s National Standards: teacher learning and assessment outcomes

Across the globe, standards-based assessment systems are increasingly promoted as a means of improving student outcomes and fulfilling accountability requirements. Within such systems, social moderation is presented as a mechanism for improving the dependability and utility of assessment information. Research emphasises that social moderation processes provide professional learning opportunities; yet this learning tends to be perceived as a by-product rather than a goal of moderation. Situated within the context of New Zealand’s recently implemented National Standards, this article reviews the literature and presents an alternative configuration of the role of social moderation. It foregrounds the professional learning that will be required if these moderation processes are to improve the dependability of National Standards assessment information and contends that reconfiguring teacher professional learning as a goal rather than a by-product of moderation should not only improve dependability and strengthen teacher assessment capability but also assist with lifting student outcomes.     

注重职业能力教育的培养模式转型研究——基于四川电大学生职业能力的调查分析

职业能力是人顺利完成职业活动所必需的能力,主要包括专业能力、方法能力和社会能力三个方面。当前电大学生低龄化趋势明显,参加工作时间较短,更换职业的需求较强。大部分学生认为缺乏专业操作技能,欠缺工作创新能力、与人沟通能力和协调合作能力。这进一步可以追溯至电大课程体系适应性差、考核方式单一、实验实习手段薄弱和忽视文化建设等方面的原因。在今后的发展中,电大应加速以能力培养为主导的培养模式的转型,找准培养目标定位,加快课程体系和考核方式改革,合理规划实验实习基地和校园文化建设,真正做到培养学生的关键职业能力。     

A Model for Using Research Methodologies in Practice

Abstract

Practice domain and needs of a profession should determine development and use of research methodologies. The complexity and broad range of social work interventions require an approach to research that is more far-reaching, with greater depth, than offered by either the positivists or post-modernists. In this article, a model presents research as skills of social work practice, integrating the contentious practice research dichotomy. Acknowledging that differences in language and perceptions of practitioners and researchers create enormous challenges, a basic assumption in the model is that good practitioners conduct research in their implementation of practice. Juxtaposing practice components with research methodologies, case material illustrates the professional helping relationship as a shared conceptualization of reality, social work assessment as theory construction with need for validity and reliability, and use of triangulation to prevent drift and unplanned shifts in the intervention.     

Traditional Assessment,Consultation, and Intervention Practices: Urban School Psychologists' Use,Importance, and Competence Ratings

This article examines the practices of school psychologists who work within an urban school district. Participants (N = 86) rated 20 specific practices on their current use, their importance, and their level of competence. Overall the school psychologists rated their involvement in traditional assessment activities as significantly more common than consultation/collaboration and prevention/intervention; however, they indicated consultation and prevention/intervention activities as significantly more valued than traditional assessment practices. Participants also noted prevention, intervention, and functional assessment as their top priorities for professional development. Thus, a practice gap was noted with regard to what this group of school psychologists' value and what they do. Results are discussed within the context of current educational reform initiatives.     

英国自闭谱系障碍儿童的早期家庭干预

自闭谱系障碍通常被描述为一种起病于3岁之前,以明显的社会交往障碍、言语沟通异常以及刻板的兴趣、奇特的行为方式为特征的谱系障碍。尽早发现、评估、干预,才能最大程度地开发这类儿童的潜能。英国目前已经拥有较为完善的法律保障体系,以保障自闭谱系障碍儿童的权利及其家庭的参与权利。"不只是语言""早起的鸟"等早期家庭干预模式均重视家长的参与,旨在形成由专业人员指导、家长执行并合作解决问题的干预体系,促进自闭谱系障碍儿童发展。英国的经验值得借鉴。     

社区矫正风险评估机制的分析与思考

社区矫正是一项系统性工程,而其中风险评估机制则是开展社区矫正的基础性工作。对社区服刑人员进行风险评估可以提高社区矫正工作的质量和效果,降低服刑人员重新犯罪率,实现社区矫正工作的科学化和社会化。上海市率先开展社区矫正风险评估制度的实践,积累了一定的经验,取得了不错的效果,但在内容设置和具体执行中仍然存在一些问题,如初次测评的情境介入、测评人员素质、测评表制定等。为此,需要对风险评估机制进行深入论证,在专业培训、测评表完善、测评部门协调、评估督导制度以及专业机构协助等方面下功夫．进而为实践部门提供科学指导。     

Crisis in the Curriculum? New Counselors' Crisis Preparation,Experiences, and Self‐Efficacy

Professional counselors are responsible for providing crisis assessment, referral, and intervention ( Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, 2009 ); however, little is known about their preparation and experiences in these areas. This study examined new professional counselors' (N= 193) crisis intervention preparation, crisis intervention self‐efficacy, and crisis intervention experiences. Although participants had limited crisis preparation during their master's programs, most engaged in crisis intervention during their field experiences. Implications for continuing education and counselor education are explored.     

Lecturers’ views of assessment design,marking and feedback in higher education: a case for professionalisation?

Abstract

Research on professional assessment practice in higher education does not always take account of lecturers’ perceptions and experiences, or their disciplinary context. This questionnaire study was designed to explore lecturers’ views about three inter-related elements of professional assessment practice: assessment design, marking and feedback. It consisted of two questionnaires: the Assessment Design Inventory (ADI), previously published, and the Assessment, Marking and Feedback Inventory (AMFI) which was newly developed for this study. The two main purposes of the research were to: i) establish the validity of these two questionnaires as research tools, ii) explore the existence of professional practice in assessment and analyse any perceived hindrances as well as possible effects of participants’ subject discipline. 356 lecturers from two UK universities, with a range of teaching experience and representing soft and hard disciplines, took part. Results indicated that the ADI and the AMFI were robust instruments. Findings showed evidence of assessment professionalism, but also some areas where it was lacking, together with a perceived need for formal training. Participants recognised that there were certain hindrances in putting their pedagogical beliefs into practice. The implications of this study are discussed in terms of advancing the sector’s understanding of assessment professionalism.