Responsible Test Use: Case Studies for Assessing Human Behavior.

Eyde ID, Robertson GJ, Krug SE. Washington, DC 20002-4242, American Psychological Association, 1993, paperback, 244 pp, $24.95.

This book traces its origins to a 1981 conference of the American Psychological Association on testing, assessment, and public policy. Subsequent conferences and the formation of a multidisciplinary working group led to the development of this very interesting casebook. Using a case method of presenting problem issues, the book deals with test use and misuse by professionals in the human behavior fields of psychology, counseling, education, speech-language-hearing, and personnel management.

Appropriate test use requires special knowledge and skills that can be learned, and should be incorporated in the formal education and training of those using tests to measure human behavior. The work group collected case materials, based on real events, to illustrate proper and improper use of tests. The casebook is intended to supplement basic textbooks that are required in courses on testing and assessment. Major emphasis is placed on the application of basic principles of test selection, application, and interpretation across seven kinds of settings: counseling/training, education, employment, general, mental health, neuropsychology, and speech-language-hearing. Eighty-six elements of competent test use have been identified by the working group. Each of the 78 case studies illustrates at least one, usually more, of these elements in either a proper or an improper aspect.

Case presentations include the setting or application in which the testing takes place and a description of the incident, followed by specific questions to focus on a case. There is an analysis by experts, and the factors and elements involved. Some of the cases are as brief as one paragraph, and some take the entire 8 1/2- x 11-in page, but all are interesting and thought provoking. The cases include material related to training and professional responsibility, test selection, test administration, scoring and norms, interpretation, reporting to clients, and administrative/organizational policy issues. Extensive appendixes include a textbook resources list, cross-referencing cases to textbooks, the 86 elements of competent test use, and a casebook-user comment form.

This casebook can serve as a valuable adjunct to text material in courses designed to evaluate human behavior. It could be a useful tool for faculty in physical therapy curricula to illustrate the issues identified above. In particular, the cases highlight behavioral science research problems, and serve as a guide to conduct for physical therapists in reporting to clients and administrators. The casebook is user-friendly, with easy access to problem areas. The cross-referencing is a particularly handy feature. I commend the primary authors and the working group for the quality of their product.