Study Guide Questions

1. What are four salient characteristics of focused assessment?
   
   
2. What is one way in which focused assessment differs from naturalistic assessment as described in Chapter 3?
   
   
3. What are two advantages to using nonstructured play observations in focused assessment?
   
   
4. Describe arena assessment. What is the rationale for conducting arena assessments?
   

Answer Key

1. a. The assessor concentrates multiple behaviors across different areas into a single situation.
   
   b. The assessor uses specific strategies to elicit targeted skills.
   
   c. The assessor must rely on a certain amount of clinical judgment because skills are assessed qualitatively instead of quantitatively.
   
   d. Nonformal methods, such as anecdotal notes and checklists, are used and allow the documentation of holistic, complex behaviors and skills.
   
   e. Assessment situations usually occur within the context of familiar activities and situations.
   
   
   
2. Focused assessment differs from naturalistic assessment because it follows more flexible testing procedures and uses nondirective questions and more open-ended methods of observation, such as checklists and anecdotal records enabling the assessment of more complex and holistic behaviors.
   
   Naturalistic assessment draws from applied behavioral analysis. It uses child-responsive interaction styles and environmental arrangement to provide a social and physical context for assessing observable skills that are operationally defined. Skills are typically discrete and focus on a single task.
   
   
   
3. a. Nonstructured play observations provide an opportunity to observe a child in a naturalistic situation and to identify capabilities that may not be recognized in a formal test.
   
   b. Nonstructured play observations are especially useful in assessing functional behavior of a young child who either cannot or will not perform in a formal testing situation.
   
   
   
4. Description: One person interacts with the child while other team members observe, record observations, and score on same or different tests.
   
   Rationale: This model is particularly useful for young children and preschool-age children with severe disabilities. In Wolery and Dyk’s study (1984), parents and professionals believed that the arena model provided a more accurate picture of the child’s strengths and weaknesses and was less time consuming than individual assessments.