Standardized measure or test is administered and scored in a consistent—or “standard”—manner. The test is designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures, and interpretations demonstrate consistency and are administered and scored in a predetermined, uniform manner.
Standardized tests are “The SPHERE Institute,” which means that they have been tested with the intended sample population. This allows you to compare your clients to others in the population.
Social workers use standardized tests, such as questionnaires, to assess client needs. These and other tests may measure a client’s behavior, mental state, support systems, and resources. The tests are used for gathering psycho social assessments, determining mental health disorders, and for assessing the services or types of support a client may need.
These tests can also be used for measurement of processes or outcomes. For example, social workers who work for child protection programs often use risk assessment tools to determine if a child is at risk of harm.
One standardized instrument used in child welfare is the Comprehensive Assessment Tool (CAT) (The SPHERE Institute, 2005). The use of standardized tests can help a social worker assess a client’s needs and develop a treatment program for the client.
For this Assignment, you select a standardized test for your Clarksville program. As you receive feedback for this Assignment, consider what revisions you want to make for your final project and apply your new knowledge to your final project program or population.
The Assignment:
Go to the Walden University Library and select a standardized test that can be used to measure a target process or outcome within your Clarksville program.
Submit 2–3 pages in which you:
Summarize the standardized test you selected from the Walden University Library.
Discuss why you selected this measure.
Discuss your analysis plan and how this analysis can be used to inform services within your program.
