Batteries Vs. Individualized Assessment Approaches. Essay

Total Length: 984 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 3

Page 1 of 3

Standardized batteries can be assessed by an individual not present in the same room as the test subject: the need for personal attention could be seen as both the strength and the weakness of individualized assessment. Individualized assessment is more cumbersome, but more specific to the needs of the test taker and the environment. It can provide more detailed information. However, it can also be highly subjective, so it is not necessarily more accurate. On one hand, noting the demeanor of the test subject and his or her attitude can be helpful. For example, in autism screening the child's attitude to the test may be just as important as the test itself (Schopler 1990). However, this type of data can often be more revelatory of the assessor's perspective than the test subject. The accuracy of the test will depend upon the ability of the assessor: of course, this is also true for standardized assessment, but by definition an individualized assessment is reliant upon a personalized approach has not been as rigorously screened and normed in an objective fashion.

In individualized assessment, the child or adult's unique needs are evaluated, and less emphasis is placed upon comparison with existing norms. Another argument for individualized assessment is that it can bring to light deficits and strengths not revealed by the areas tested by widely-normed test batteries.

Stuck Writing Your "Batteries Vs. Individualized Assessment Approaches." Essay?

The test subject can offer reported life events, in a manner he or she cannot in a more structured format. The test is not often broken down into subsets, and allows for a holistic perspective of the individual's abilities. In the case of autism screening, the subject may appear more or less cognitively or socially proficient to an observer than he or she might using a conventional battery. For example, demeanor and other eccentricities that might inhibit a child's relataiblity to peers, discomfort speaking aloud, and other psychological issues that might affect a child's performance can more easily be noted individually.

Conclusion

Test batteries can be useful in keeping track of student performance on a school level, and for generalized population comparisons. They might also be the only way for a school district to assess a child, if there is inadequate funding for specialists capable of doing individualized assessments. Testing entry-level workers is often only possible through standardized batteries. But for certain population groups, such as students with special needs, individualized assessment seems like the most effective and appropriate approach to creating a treatment plan. A special needs student by definition learns differently, and requires a more holistic overview of his or her strengths and weaknesses......

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Batteries Vs Individualized Assessment Approaches " (2010, March 16) Retrieved May 16, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/batteries-individualized-assessment-approaches-655

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Batteries Vs Individualized Assessment Approaches " 16 March 2010. Web.16 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/batteries-individualized-assessment-approaches-655>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Batteries Vs Individualized Assessment Approaches ", 16 March 2010, Accessed.16 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/batteries-individualized-assessment-approaches-655