Use Of Assessment Techniques Research Articles

Assessment and “The Global Research Village”: Adapting Psychological Instruments

Authors involved in adapting career assessment instruments generally recognize the meaning and nature of the pitfalls and hurdles they encounter in making a test ready for use in a foreign country, culture or language. This article discusses some major obstacles related to the sampling of situations and functions and their ecological relatedness, the compatibility between the conceptual and the operational definitions of variables, the psychometric properties of the test, and the cross-national evidence. In addition there is the question of whether the new reality of globalisation should determine a shift towards intercultural research, and whether common and regional competencies should be integrated to achieve added value and usefulness of assessment techniques?

MR urography of obstructive uropathy: diagnostic value of the method in selected clinical groups

The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of MR urography (MRU) in the diagnosis of obstructive uropathy in selected groups of patients. The groups involved following pathologies: calculi; strictures of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ); benign and malignancy-induced ureterostenosis. Sixty patients with clinical diagnosis of obstructive uropathy were subjected to static fluid MRU (sMRU) with the use of 3D turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence in a 0.5-T magnet. The examination was completed with conventional MR sequences and in 12 cases additionally with sequences after the administration of Gd-DTPA and excretory MRU. The results were compared with intravenous urography (IVU), CT, US, clinical and histopathological data. The degree of the urinary tract dilatation as well as the level and type of obstruction were estimated. In patients with urolithiasis sMRU correctly depicted the degree of ureterohydronephrosis in 85%, in cases of UPJ stenosis and malignancy-induced ureterostenosis in 100% and in the group of benign ureterostenosis in 91% of patients. Determination of obstruction level in patients with stones was adequate in 92% and in cases of non-calculous ureteral strictures in 100% of patients. The sMRU sequence alone could not specify the nature of obstruction except 1 case of bladder carcinoma. Filling defects in ureters visible on MR urograms were verified with IVU or CT to exclude intrinsic tumours. Completed with conventional MR sequences sMRU enabled the depiction of solid mass or infiltration in 83% cases of malignancy-induced ureterostenosis, and in the remaining groups of patients neoplastic process was excluded in 91%. In conjunction with excretory MRU and conventional MR images sMRU appears to be a highly useful technique in assessment of obstructive uropathy, especially that of non-calculous origin. Among different clinical applications MRU is superior in the evaluation of dilated urinary tract in altered anatomical conditions (e.g. in patients with ileal neobladder).

Computerized posturography with sway frequency analysis: application in occupational and environmental health.

To examine the effects of occupational and environmental neurotoxicants on vestibular, cerebellar and spinocerebellar functions, the following three groups of subjects were examined, using a computerized posturography with sway frequency analysis: (1) 49 male chemical factory workers exposed to lead stearate, aged 27-63 (mean 43) years, with concurrent blood lead concentrations (BPbs) of 11-113 (mean 48) microg/100 g and past mean BPbs of 7-52 (mean 24) microg/100 g; (2) 29 male sandal, shoe and leather factory workers, aged 35-73 (mean 51) years, with urinary 2,5-hexanedione (HD) concentrations of 0.41-3.06 (mean 1.20) mg/g creatinine; and (3) 9 females, aged 19-58 (mean 29) years, who were exposed to sarin accidentally 6-8 months before the study (Tokyo Subway Sarin Poisoning, March 20,1995) and showed plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activities of 13-95 (mean 68) IU/l on the day of poisoning. The pattern of posturographic changes in lead workers suggested that the vestibulocerebellum (lower vermis), anterior cerebellar lobe and spinocerebellar afferent pathway were asymptomatically affected; the vestibulocerebellar change reflected concurrent lead absorption and the anterior cerebellar one reflected past absorption. Similarly, vestibulocerebellar and spinocerebellar functions were affected by n-hexane in solvent workers; the effect on the vestibulocerebellar function was probably inhibited by xylene. Also, the chronic (long-term) effect on the vestibulocerebellar function persisted in acute sarin poisoning. It is thus suggested that the vesitibulocerebellar function is most sensitive to all the three chemicals examined. It appears that the computerized posturography with frequency analysis is a useful technique for assessment of vestibular, cerebellar and spinocerebellar effects in occupational and environmental health.

How Grades 1–7 Teachers Assess Mathematics and How They Use the Assessment Data

The purpose of this study was to explore mathematics assessment methods employed by teachers and ways teachers used assessment data. The sample for the study consisted of 398 mathematics teachers in Grades 1 to 7 in a state in Australia. The teachers completed a Likert‐scale survey. Using Scheffe pair‐wise comparisons and correlation coefficients to examine the relationships between grade level, use of assessment data, and use of assessment techniques, the researchers found several significant differences in teaching and assessment cultures across Grades 1 to 7.

The reproducibility of methods of assessment for cervical dentine hypersensitivity

AbstractBackground: Many agents and toothpaste formulations have been proposed for treatment of dentine hypersensitivity. However, studies have reported equivocal or contradictory results, potentially related to a lack of clinical efficacy for agents being tested, poor study design or the use of assessment techniques which are unable to distinguish longitudinal changes in dentine hypersensitivity.Aim: To investigate the reproducibility of commonly used measurement protocols for dentine hypersensitivity on single or multiple teeth. In addition, newly‐developed controlled air and cold fluid stimuli were investigated.Methods and Materials: Standardised pain stimulation techniques were used in 2 investigations with 63 and 42 subjects, respectively. The reproducibility of perceived hypersensitivity before and following stimulation was recorded over time periods of 14 and 2 days, respectively, using visual analogue scales and threshold techniques.Results: Subject demographics resembled those reported in other hypersensitivity investigations. Analysis using several measures of reproducibility indicated that subject‐based reproducibility was limited, even when the stimuli were standardised. However, the data are consistent with the findings of investigations on pain assessment in other fields.Conclusions: The reproducibility of subjects in clinical trials of dentine hypersensitivity may therefore contribute to difficulties in establishing treatment efficacy of agents in clinical trials.

The reproducibility of methods of assessment for cervical dentine hypersensitivity.

Many agents and toothpaste formulations have been proposed for treatment of dentine hypersensitivity. However, studies have reported equivocal or contradictory results, potentially related to a lack of clinical efficacy for agents being tested, poor study design or the use of assessment techniques which are unable to distinguish longitudinal changes in dentine hypersensitivity. To investigate the reproducibility of commonly used measurement protocols for dentine hypersensitivity on single or multiple teeth. In addition, newly-developed controlled air and cold fluid stimuli were investigated. Standardised pain stimulation techniques were used in 2 investigations with 63 and 42 subjects, respectively. The reproducibility of perceived hypersensitivity before and following stimulation was recorded over time periods of 14 and 2 days, respectively, using visual analogue scales and threshold techniques. Subject demographics resembled those reported in other hypersensitivity investigations. Analysis using several measures of reproducibility indicated that subject-based reproducibility was limited, even when the stimuli were standardised. However, the data are consistent with the findings of investigations on pain assessment in other fields. The reproducibility of subjects in clinical trials of dentine hypersensitivity may therefore contribute to difficulties in establishing treatment efficacy of agents in clinical trials.

Usefulness of Assessment Techniques in Assessing Classification for Emotional Disturbance and Generating Classroom Recommendations

A national survey of specialist school psychologists examined the perceived usefulness of assessment techniques in making decisions regarding eligibility for the educational classification of emotional disturbance and in generating classroom recommendations. Analysis showed measures rated as most useful were interviews with the parent, teacher, and student, observations of the student, and norm-referenced rating scales. Projective techniques were least useful. These findings are important in the context of "best practices" for the multidimensional assessment of emotional disturbance which promotes a more direct link between assessment and intervention.

USEFULNESS OF ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES IN ASSESSING CLASSIFICATION FOR EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE AND GENERATING CLASSROOM RECOMMENDATIONS

A national survey of specialist school psychologists examined the perceived usefulness of assessment techniques in making decisions regarding eligibility for the educational classification of emotional disturbance and in generating classroom recommendations. Analysis showed measures rated as most useful were interviews with the parent, teacher, and student, observations of the student, and norm-referenced rating scales. Projective techniques were least useful. These findings are important in the context of “best practices” for the multidimensional assessment of emotional disturbance which promotes a more direct link between assessment and intervention.

Auditory Evoked Responses in Children During Hypothermic Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Variations in core temperature and cerebral blood flow during open heart surgery may affect auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and middle latency responses (MLRs) in both adults and children. We documented the changes in ABRs of two infants (ages 3 and 11 weeks, respectively) with variations in core temperature during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and total circulatory arrest and compared them with those of a 19-year-old adult. Changes in MLRs that occurred in association with reductions in cerebral blood flow as monitored by transcranial Doppler are also reported in a 6-year-old child. With the reductions in temperature in both infants and the young adult, ABR latencies increased and amplitudes decreased. Effects of hypothermia on ABR latencies were completely reversed by rewarming. MLR amplitudes were transiently reduced during periods of normothermic hypoperfusion. Hypothermia partially prevented these changes, and normoperfusion after rewarming recovered MLRs. Monitoring ABRs and MLRs may be a useful technique for assessment of brain function during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in children and infants.

909-3 Transesophageal Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography for Detection of Coronary Artery Disease in Women Presenting with Chest Pain: Comparison with Other Standard Tests

Non-invasive identification of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women is hindered by a relatively high incidence of false positive studies. We have shown that transesophageal dobutamine stress echocardiography (TEDSE) is a useful technique for assessment of CAD in a predominantely male population. To determine the accuracy of TEDSE for detection of CAD in women in relation to other standard non-invasive tests, we studied 49 women (age 51 ± 10 years, range 33–78) who underwent cardiac catheterization, exercise treadmill test (ETT) and stress thallium scintigraphy (TI) for evaluation of chest pain and suspected CAD. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed using a biplane (13 patients) or an omniplane probe (36 patients), and dobutamine was infused in stepwise increments up to 40 μg/kg/min. Ten women had CAD (≥ 70% stenosis of ≥ 1 major coronary artery) and 39 had normal coronary angiograms. During TEDSE, chest pain developed in 8 of 10 (80%) women with CAD and in 31 of the 39 (79%) with normal coronary arteries (p = NS). Of the 10 women with CAD, 7 had ST segment depression during ETT, 8 had reversible TI defects, and 8 developed new or worsening wall motion abnormalities during TEDSE (sensitivity: 70%, 80%, and 80%, respectively; p = NS). Of the 39 women without CAD, 12 had ST segment depression during ETT, 8 had reversible Tl defects, and none developed new or worsening wall motion abnormalities during TEDSE (specificity: 69%,79%, and 100%, respectively; p < 0.002). The overall accuracy was 69% for ETT, 80% for TI, and 96% for TEDSE (p < 0.003). Thus, TEDSE is an accurate test for detection of CAD among women presenting with chest pain which, by virtue of its high specificity, compares favorably with other standard methods.

Microbiologic Examination of Bulk Tank Milk

Microbiologic examination of bulk tank milk can be a useful technique in assessment of mastitis and milk quality. Sample collection and handling, laboratory techniques, and interpretation and use of bulk tank microbiology are discussed. Recommendations are made based upon a survey of mastitis laboratories and the author's experience.

Assessment and Classification of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorders

:This article discusses issues concerning evaluation, assessment, and classification of Attention-deficit Hyperactive Disorders (ADHD). Current treatment of ADHD in psychiatric and educational classification of childhood disorders is presented. It is argued that the diagnosis of ADHD should be a “best estimate” diagnosis, based on a behavioral assessment strategy using multimethod assessment. Considerations in the selection and use of assessment techniques which may be incorporated into this process, including diagnostic interviews, behavioral rating scales, peer assessment, and observational techniques, are discussed.

Review of The Use of Assessment Techniques by Applied Psychologists.

Review of The Use of Assessment Techniques by Applied Psychologists.

Mapping Diabetic Sensory Neuropathy by Current Perception Threshold Testing

Detailed clinical neurological examinations were conducted on 44 nondiabetic volunteers and 59 diabetic subjects. The examinations focused particularly on sensory symptomatic and physical evaluation. Standardized assessment of symptoms and physical testing of light touch, pain, vibratory, and thermal sensation was performed at the hand, wrist, elbow, foot, ankle, and knee. A total symptom score and physical score were defined by summing test scores at each site. Current perception threshold (CPT) testing that used constant sine-wave-alternating current was conducted at the same anatomic sites. CPT correlations with the physical score gave r values of .55 for 5 Hz, .60 for 250 Hz, and .62 for 2000 Hz (n = 618). Correlations with the symptom score were not as strong: r = .45 for 5 Hz, .46 for 250 Hz, and .51 for 2000 Hz. The correlation with symptom score was due primarily to a strong relationship for the symptom of numbness (r = .53 for all 3 frequencies). Correlations with pain and paresthesia were much lower. CPTs for diabetic subjects at the three frequencies were higher at most locations than for the nondiabetic volunteers. However, CPTs were no different from normal values in diabetic subjects without evidence of neuropathy. CPT testing appears to be a useful technique for assessment of diabetic sensory neuropathy.

Risk Analysis for Dam Design in Karst

Probabilistic risk analysis is a useful technique in assessment of dam safety issues, and also has important applications in the early phases of dam design when design options are being compared and exploration strategies planned. At this stage, few data are usually available and judgment‐based decisions are most important. An application of probabilistic risk analysis to design of a dike in karst terrain is described. Assessments based on geologic information, observations, and subsurface investigations are expressed using a simple probability model. Options considered to reduce the likelihood or consequences of sinkhole‐induced failure include a secondary containment structure, a warning system, and additional exploration. These options are evaluated using an expected monetary value criterion. It is shown that simple probabilistic formulations consistent with preliminary levels of information reduced major sinkhole uncertainties into more readily evaluated components. These techniques identified the most cost‐effective design strategy for reducing the risk of sinkhole‐induced dike failure and provided an effective vehicle for communicating geotechnical judgments, risks, and alternatives to the project owner.

Dual-energy projection radiography in the evaluation of femoral neck strength, density, and mineralization.

Two different dual-energy projection radiography techniques were utilized in an attempt to predict femoral neck strength, bone density, and bone mineral content in 19 pairs of cadaver specimens. Positive simple linear correlation was observed between dual-energy scanned projection measurements and dry density, ash fraction, cross-sectional cortical bone area and, to a lesser degree, force required for fracture, but not trabecular bone volume, failure time, or Singh trabecular grade. Dual-energy film radiography was found to be a less reliable indicator of femoral neck strength, density, and mineral content. Dual-energy scanned projection results related linearly to mineral-equivalent solution (K2HPO4) concentration, and demonstrated long-term reproducibility in repeated specimen studies. Correction factors derived to account for differences in femoral size and rotation were shown to be reliable over a moderate range of neck projections. Although bone mineral measurement at other sites may provide comparable or greater information concerning hip fracture risk, dual-energy scanned projection radiography appears to be a useful technique for assessment of bone density, mineral content, and strength in the femoral neck.

Elicited imitation and assessment of abilities.

It is possible to regard imitation within at least three theoretical frameworks. First, imitation may be regarded as a special case of another more general form of learning (Miller and Dollard, 1941; Gewirtz, 1971). Secondly, it is possible to consider imitation as a unique process which may be accounted for in its own right (Bandura, 1969). A third theory of imitation has its origin in the work of Piaget (1951) and suggests that imitation is only one aspect of the total functioning of an individual and lies between accommodation and assimilation. The Piagetian account of imitation implies that as an individual develops, his imitations undergo a series of transformations, so that the level of organization of the individual directly influences his imitations. There is some evidence that, in the case of the severely subnormal child, the Piagetian theory has implications for both the development of learning and the assessment of abilities. In a series of experiments requiring the ESNS children to imitate sounds in words, whole words, strings of words (structured and semi-structured) and sentences of varying complexity (Berry, 1971; 1973), an analysis of errors indicated differential levels and strategies of processing the linguistic input. In addition, the level of performance on imitation tasks correlated significantly with abilities on other tasks of linguistic ability such as receptive vocabulary, the comprehension of sentences of varying syntactic complexity and the ability to vary syntactic complexity and the ability to produce language related to picture stimuli. Evidence from other researchers using the technique for the assessment of language (e.g. Slobin, 1968; Osser, Wang and Zaid, 1970) as well as studies in motor imitation (e.g. Wapner and Cirillo, 1968) suggests that elicited imitation of a model might be a useful technique for the psychological assessment of skills, since errors in imitation tasks seem to be directly related to the individual's competence.