Behavioral Assessment Versus Traditional Psychological Assessment

Assessments play a crucial role in psychology. It seems there is no therapist in the field that doesn't use one form of assessment or another in order to gain a better understanding of their client, their client's condition; formulate a diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan; or simply monitor progress. Both behavioral assessment and traditional assessment are used for these purposes; however, they are used for different purposes and in different ways. Naturally, behavioral assessment places emphasis on different areas than traditional assessment. These differences between behavioral and traditional assessment provide an alternative for any therapist seeking to turn away from sign and look toward sample.

The term "sign" in the context of psychological assessment refers to the tendency of psychologists to make inferences that the "performance is an indirect or symbolic manifestation of some other characteristic" (Trull, 2005 pg 237). The "sign" method of assessment is countered by the behavioral assessment "sample" method. "Sample" refers to the viewpoint that test responses are samples that "parallel the way in which a person is likely to behave in a non-test situation" (Trull, 2005 pg 237).

Since behavioral assessment puts emphasis on actual behavior and not underlying states or traits in personality, it employs functional analysis, analyses of the stimuli that come before a specific behavior, and the consequences that follow a specific behavior. Through functional analysis a therapist can draw conclusions as to the causes of the behavior in question, and thus better treat it. Under functional analysis, a clinician is charged with two goals, the first is to identify the stimulus for behavior and the conditions that are present to precipitate it. The second goal is to determine reinforcements to this behavior that cause the individual to continue the behavior. In meeting these two goals the clinician is then able to begin modifying the behavior through manipulating the stimuli and/or reinforcements.

Aside from functional analysis, behavioral assessment places different emphasis on the timing and scope of the assessment. In traditional assessment, assessments are generally given prior to treatment, as well as after treatment. Similarly, the scope of traditional assessment is relatively small when compared to behavioral assessment. Traditional assessment is mean to assess improvement of a patient, or a cure. In contrast, behavioral assessment emphasizes assessment as an ongoing process that should occur at all stages of the therapeutic process, meaning before, during, and after therapy. Additionally, the scope of behavioral assessment is to assess measures and variables. The behavioral assessment method deals more with target behaviors, side effects, and other such specifics. Inferences in behavioral assessment is quite low, while traditional assessment's level of inferences are moderate to high (Trull, 2005 pg 239).

One of the most important things to remember when considering the differences between behavioral and traditional assessment is the way in which personality plays into the believes about behavior. This is one of the key differences between the two theories, and actually affects other areas of assessment. In behavioral assessment, personality is viewed only to summarize certain behavior patterns, and even this is quite rare. In contrast, traditional assessment uses personality as a "reflection of enduring underlying states or traits" (Trull, 2005). This makes traditional assessment view the causes of behavior as within the individual as opposed to the behavioral theory that views the causes of behavior as an effort to maintain conditions in an individual's environment (i.e. a reaction to a specific stimuli). Similarly, behavioral assessment expects the behavior of individuals to depend on the situation present. This is evidenced by the fact that behavioral assessment supporters use samples rather than signs. Sticking with this, since traditional assessment uses signs, they expect behavior to be consistent irregardless of time or setting.

Lastly, behavioral assessment differs in terms of the implications it bears. As mentioned earlier, behavioral assessment views behavioral as a sample of a person's typical reactions in those specific circumstances; whereas traditional assessment only places emphasis on behavior insofar as the underlying causes are concerned. Traditional assessment places a great deal of emphasis on the underlying causes of behavior, something common for those of the psychodynamic persuasion. This can also been seen in the fact that a patient's history is extremely important in traditional assessment. This is because conditions in the present are believed to be linked to conditions in the past. Conversely, behavioral assessment finds a patient's history fairly unimportant since it seeks to sample behaviors and determine the stimuli and reinforcements. As such, a patient's history really has little to offer a therapist of the behavioral persuasion. The only time in which history would be useful, was as a basis for beginning therapy, but would have little to do with ultimate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

While behavioral and traditional assessment are significantly different, both work to treat the individual seeking help. Which assessment form is used depends on the orientation of the therapist, and the motives for the assessment.

References:

Trull, T. (2005). Clinical Psychology, 7^th Edition. Belmont, CA. Thomson Wadsworth.

Kronheim, S., Jones, G., Munshell, C. (2007). Module 2: Clinical Assessment and Evaluation. Retrieved December 16, 2007, from UMUC Web Tycho Database. www.umuc.edu