2. Focus Questions:
1. Why is behavioral assessment an ongoing
process?
2. What are the major differences between
behavioral assessment and traditional
assessment?
3. What factors affect the reliability and validity of
observations
4. What is the SORC model, and how it is applied
to clinical problems
5. What is the importance of cognitive variables in
behavioral assessment?
3. Behavioral Assessment refers
to an approach to understanding and changing
behavior by identifying the context in which it
occurs. It is a form of measurement based on
objective recording of the person's behavior.
4. The Behavioral Tradition
Sample Versus Sign
Functional Analysis
Behavioral Assessment as an Ongoing
Process
5. 1. Sample vs. Sign
In behavioral assessment, test / interview
responses are interpreted as “samples” of
behavior that are thought to generalize to
other situations
In traditional assessment (even
psychodynamic), we interpret test data as
“signs” of internal processes
6. 2. Functional Analysis (also called
Functional Behavioral Analysis)
Derived from Skinner’s work with SR
(stimulus-response) learning
SORC model
7. SORC model for conceptualizing a
behavior
S = stimulus or “antecedent” factors which
occur before target behavior
O = organismic variables relevant to target
behavior
R = the response = the target behavior
C = consequences of target behavior
8. Example of SORC model
S – Stimulus: a child is ignored by her peers in
class
(O – Organismic: the child has previously been
diagnosed with ADHD
R – Response: She increases the volume of her
voice (i.e., yells)
C – Consequences: her peers pay attention to
her, some role their eyes
9. 3. Is an ongoing & active process, through all
points of behavioral therapy: initial
assessment, therapy, and evaluation of
improvement
Assessment is an ongoing process in almost all
clinical orientations, in that it’s almost always in the
“back” of clinician’s mind.
Ex: Hmm, I thought Mr. Z had depression, but now
he’s exhibiting more anxious symptoms; I wonder if
this is more a mixed anxiety-depression sydrome.
In behavioral assessment, is a planned & integral
part of entire therapeutic process
10. Table:9-1 Differences Between Behavioral and Traditional Approach to
Assessment
Behavioral Psychodynamic
1. Assumptions
1. Conception of
Personality
Personality constructs
mainly employed to
summarize specific
behavior patterns, if at all.
Personality as a
reflection of enduring
underlying states of
traits.
2. Causes of
Behavior
Maintaining conditions
sought in current
environment
Intrapsychic (within the
individual)
2. Implications
1. Role of
Behavior
Important as a sample of
person’s repertoire in
specific situation
Behavior assumes
importance only insofar
as it indexes underlying
causes
2. Role of
history
Relatively unimportant,
except for (ex. to provide a
retrospective baseline)
Crucial in that present
conditions seen as a
product of the past
