A national survey of school psychologists found that assessment activities comprised nearly 40 percent of the work time, and consultative activities another one-third of the day. Data were collected on a number of other work activities, as well as characteristics of the respondents and district served. (Author)

Analyzes the ABIC using data on elementary children across racial and social lines. On item difficulty, scores are higher for middle-SES, older, first- or second-born children, and from families whose structures are more typical. ABIC-achievement correlations generally are too low to be of value. (Author)

A model for assessing the developmental skills of handicapped children is presented, for school psychologists. Stressing the relationship between assessment, intervention, and program evaluation, it is consistent with Public Law 94-142. Three assessment methods are recommended: parent interview, observation, and adaptive use of standardized tests.…

Reviews the Behavior Dimensions Rating Scale, an individualized, self-scoring behavioral assessment instrument. The scale is intended to measure patterns of behavior related to emotional problems for children in kindergarten through Grade 11. The test is easy to use and to interpret. There is, however, a need to further investigate the validity…

An overview is provided of the similarities and distinctions between individuals with autism and those with Asperger syndrome (AS). The cognitive and neurocognitive profiles underlying deficits characteristic of autism spectrum disorders are reviewed and particular emphasis is placed on comparisons of high-functioning autism to AS on the basis of…

Discusses improvements in assessment of children and adolescents with disabilities including new psychological testing standards, updated and renormed cognitive assessments, and vocational assessments with increased ecological validity. Cites progress made in technical qualities of assessment and utilization. (Authors/CM)

Regular-education, third-grade teachers (n=91) in Indiana reviewed one of two psychological reports, identical except that one reported a diagnosis of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and one reported a diagnosis of rheumatic fever. AIDS was not found to be a biasing factor in teachers' judgments regarding special education placement.…

Examined Swedish children's inhibition behavior using mothers' and psychologists' ratings of inhibition at age 18 and 24 months to predict later ratings through age 16 years. Prediction was more reliable for children rated as very inhibited or very uninhibited than for those in nonextreme group through age six. Only for inhibited girls did early…

Notes that people over age 60 have highest suicide rates and comprise one-fourth of all suicides. Presents case study illustrating risk assessment and intervention with elderly woman. Examines clinical issues related to recognition of suicidal elderly patients and presents practical approach to early detection, evaluation, and management of…

Examines a small rural public school's immediate and long-range postvention responses to a student suicide. Provides information from a psychological autopsy compiled in the months following the death. Discusses the implications of suicide postvention and the benefits of using a psychological autopsy approach as a postvention strategy. (RJM)

Proposes a prototypical model for psychological assessment that reformulates a model of the counselor-as-scientist. Integrates the model's theory and research on human inference, judgment, and decision making; research on threats to accurate clinical prediction; and findings about counselor characteristics associated with effective judgment…

Develops and tests hypotheses concerning the relationship of different media to psychological outcomes; postulates that print media are related to analytic cognition (reason) and electronic media to syncretic cognition (emotion). Two hundred forty magazine and television advertisements are analyzed in terms of attributes and reactions they invoke.…

Examined 75 children previously diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Reexamined initial reasons for referral. Nearly one-third of diagnosed ADHD group was reclassified with mental disorders. Concluded that comorbidity among ADHD symptoms, other mental disorders, and learning disabilities has rendered 8 of 14 ADHD…

Survey of middle school children examined their perceptions of their parents' actions toward one another. Fathers' ratings correlated to the reciprocated love between parents. Mother ratings only varied with the love they exhibited toward their husband and not vice versa. Self-concepts varied among sexes and were correlated to parental loving.…

Issues concerning evaluation, assessment, and classification of Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorders (ADHD) are discussed. The diagnosis of ADHD should be a best-estimate diagnosis, based on a behavioral assessment strategy with multimethod assessment. The selection and use of assessment techniques are discussed. (SLD)