Principles of Assessment and Outcome Measurement for Allied Health Professionals: Practice, Research and Development

Principles of Assessment and Outcome Measurement for Allied Health Professionals The revised and updated second edition of Principles of Assessment and Outcome Measurement for Allied Health Professionals offers an authoritative guide for allied health professionals and students. The authors, noted experts on the topic, explore the assessment process that encompasses the data collection methods, the evaluation process that determines the effectiveness of an intervention, and standardised and systematic outcome measurement procedures. The book discusses in detail the various methods of data collection (observation, interview, standardised testing) and the types of sources (self-report, proxy, observational) for collecting information. The main purposes of assessment (descriptive, evaluative, predictive, discriminative) are also presented. The book addresses the topics of standardization, levels of measurement, reliability, validity, and clinical usefulness. The text provides the information needed to select and perform assessment and outcomes measurement to inform goal setting, evaluate outcomes, and ensure that interventions are effective, efficient, and economical in order to provide quality services to clients and their carers. This important book: Covers information on assessment and measurement in practice, research, and service evaluation and improvement Explores how to develop and evaluate assessments and outcome measures Offers an international perspective Discusses the criteria for choosing a particular assessment approach Informs the critical appraisal of the evidence underpinning standardised assessments and measures, and selecting the best tools for practice or research Includes updated and additional case studies Provides worksheets and additional illustrations to enhance understanding Written for allied health students and professionals, Principles of Assessment and Outcome Measurement for Allied Health Professionals is the essential guide to assessing, measuring, and evaluating the impact and outcome of clinical practice and interventions.

Table of Contents:
Authors’ Biography ix Authors Contributing to Case Studies xi Foreword xiii Preface xiv Acknowledgements xviii Introduction 1 Section I Assessment and Measurement in Practice 13 Chapter 1 The Importance of Accurate Assessment and Outcome Measurement 15 Chapter 2 Methods of Assessment and Sources of Assessment Data 49 Chapter 3 Purposes of Assessment and Measurement 100 Chapter 4 What Is Measurement? 131 Chapter 5 Test Administration, Reporting, and Recording 147 Chapter 6 The Importance of Clinical Reasoning and Reflective Practice in Effective Assessment 171 Section 2 Concepts for Assessment and Measurement 229 Chapter 7 Standardisation 231 Chapter 8 Validity and Clinical Utility 243 Chapter 9 Reliability 272 Chapter 10 Selecting and Appraising Assessments and Outcome Measures 295 Section 3 Assessment and Measurement for Service Evaluation and Improvement 335 Chapter 11 Applying Models to Assessment and Outcome Measurement 337 Chapter 12 Implementing the Optimum Assessment and Measurement Approach 376 Chapter 13 Using Assessment and Outcome Measures in Service Evaluation 393 Section 4 Developing and Evaluating Assessments and Outcome Measures 411 Chapter 14 Test Development 413 Chapter 15 Conducting Psychometric Studies 433 Brief Answers to Chapter Review Questions 445 Index 453

About the Author :
Alison J. Laver-Fawcett, Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy, School of Science, Technology and Health, York St John University, UK. Diane L. Cox, Emeritus Professor of Occupational Therapy, University of Cumbria, Carlisle, UK.