LSP Psychological Assessment & Evaluation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A clinician notices that a child earns a significantly higher score on the Fluid Reasoning index than on the Working Memory index of the WISC-V. This pattern is BEST described as:
- Global intellectual impairment
- A clinically meaningful intraindividual index score discrepancy (Correct answer)
- An invalid profile due to floor effects
- Evidence of test bias
Correct answer: A clinically meaningful intraindividual index score discrepancy
Statistically and clinically significant discrepancies between index scores represent intraindividual strengths and weaknesses that inform diagnosis and intervention planning.
Question 2: Under APA ethical guidelines, when may a psychologist release raw test data to a non-psychologist client who requests it?
- Never; raw data must be retained by the psychologist indefinitely
- When the client provides written authorization and release is not contraindicated by potential harm (Correct answer)
- Only when ordered by a court with subpoena power
- After a mandatory 90-day waiting period following test administration
Correct answer: When the client provides written authorization and release is not contraindicated by potential harm
APA Ethics Code 9.04 allows release of raw test data to clients or their designees when there is a valid release, unless the psychologist believes it could cause harm.
Question 3: A psychologist uses the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Fourth Edition (Bayley-4) with a 14-month-old. What is the PRIMARY purpose of this instrument?
- To diagnose specific learning disabilities in early childhood
- To assess developmental status and identify developmental delay (Correct answer)
- To measure attachment security with caregivers
- To screen for autism spectrum disorder
Correct answer: To assess developmental status and identify developmental delay
The Bayley-4 assesses cognitive, language, motor, social-emotional, and adaptive behavior development in infants and toddlers to identify developmental delays.
Question 4: When interpreting a neuropsychological battery, the concept of 'base rate' is important because:
- It tells the clinician what score is needed to pass a standardized test
- Low base rate deficits appear significant but may occur commonly in the normal population (Correct answer)
- It adjusts raw scores for age and education
- It determines which tests are covered by insurance
Correct answer: Low base rate deficits appear significant but may occur commonly in the normal population
Because even healthy individuals show some low scores across a large battery, clinicians must use base rate data to determine how many low scores are expected by chance.
Question 5: A client's PAI (Personality Assessment Inventory) profile shows markedly elevated scores on the Somatic Complaints (SOM) and Anxiety-Related Disorders (ARD) scales with a low Defensiveness (DEF) scale. This pattern MOST suggests:
- Defensive over-reporting of physical symptoms only
- A genuine presentation of somatic preoccupation and anxiety-spectrum concerns (Correct answer)
- Random responding invalidating the protocol
- Marked antisocial tendencies masked by somatic complaints
Correct answer: A genuine presentation of somatic preoccupation and anxiety-spectrum concerns
Elevated SOM and ARD with low defensiveness suggests the client is openly reporting genuine somatic preoccupation and anxiety-related distress rather than faking or minimizing.
Question 6: The Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) Color-Word Interference Test is analogous to which classic experimental paradigm?
- Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
- Stroop Color-Word Task (Correct answer)
- Tower of London
- Continuous Performance Test
Correct answer: Stroop Color-Word Task
The D-KEFS Color-Word Interference Test is based on the Stroop paradigm, measuring inhibitory control by having subjects name ink colors while ignoring incongruent color words.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST describes criterion-referenced interpretation of assessment results?
- Comparing a client's score to the performance of a standardization sample
- Evaluating performance relative to a predefined standard of mastery or competency (Correct answer)
- Using the client's previous scores as the reference standard
- Interpreting scores in light of the examiner's clinical experience
Correct answer: Evaluating performance relative to a predefined standard of mastery or competency
Criterion-referenced interpretation evaluates whether a client's performance meets a specific performance standard or mastery level, independent of how others perform.
LSP Psychological Assessment & Evaluation 5
A clinician notices that a child earns a significantly higher score on the Fluid Reasoning index than on the Working Memory index of the WISC-V.
This pattern is BEST described as: