Current definitions of temperament are reviewed, and two types of rating scales designed to measure temperamental variables are described. Also, brief reviews of the literature on the relationship of temperament to general cognitive ability, achievement, and psychopathology are presented. Implications for school psychologists are discussed.…

Presents a summary of the "Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM) criteria for childhood anxiety and depression disorders, as well as modifications in the diagnostic criteria from DSM-III-R to DSM-IV. Discusses the utility of DSM-IV for school psychologists, including delineating essential criteria for diagnosis and the…

Research in assessment and intervention with developmentally disabled children has led to important advances in recent years. This article identifies conceptual and practical issues important to the process of behavioral assessment, and presents a framework for the behavioral assessment of the developmentally disabled, with special emphasis on…

Syndrome scores for the normative school-age population of the revised Bristol Social Adjustment Guides were grouped according to sequential hierarchical cluster analyses. Sixteen homogeneous syndromic profile types emerged and are described in this article (Author/BW)

Non-confrontative stealing in childhood has been recognized as predictive of social maladjustment in adolescence and adulthood. A conceptual overview of issues that complicate the assessment of stealing and contribute to the maintenance of this behavior in children is provided. Diagnostic recommendations and treatment strategies in schools are…

An orientation and procedural framework designed to assist school psychologists considering projective assessment and subsequent consultation with parents and school staff are presented. This approach may be useful in facilitating effective consultations and interventions. The psychologist's presentation and suggestions are most important to the…

Current practices of personality and behavior assessment were analyzed. Projective techniques, especially figure drawings and sentence completion devices, were found to be the most often used instruments for personality assessment by school psychologists. Objective personality tests and published behavior rating scales were far less frequently…

Issues related to an increasing incompatibility between school psychology and projective assessment are examined. These issues pertain to educational relevance, changing social and educational values, potential litigation, and technical adequacy. The authors conclude that there are few valid reasons for school psychologists to use projective…

Sixty-four school psychologists kept daily records for four weeks of all tests they administered and the reasons they used each test. Projective tests were infrequently used, were typically used to measure personality or self-concept, and were considered less important than other tests for educational planning. (Author/BW)

Reviews the DSM-IV criteria for conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), comparing their counterparts in DSM-III-R. Results from DSM-IV field trials indicate interrater and test-retest reliability were only marginally improved compared to prior criteria. Although overlooked in DSM-IV, community factors, gender differences,…

This response to Batsche and Peterson's article discusses the theoretical, empirical, and pragmatic merits of projective assessment when performed in the context of a comprehensive personality assessment battery. The projective measures should not be considered in isolation. The author concludes projective techniques are not incompatible with…

This article discusses the crisis-coping model of school psychology practice, the problems brought about by this model, and the advantages of a preventive approach. It then describes the Barclay Classroom Assessment System, a multi-trait, multi-method assessment procedure that utilizes rating technology and computer synthesis to implement a…

A conceptual model for school-based personality assessment, methods to integrate behavioral and projective assessment procedures, and issues surrounding the use of projective tests are presented. Ways to maximize the personality assessment process for use in placement and programing decisions are suggested. (Author/DWH)