Clinical Evaluation Essay

1. Professional Interest: Clinical Counseling and Forensic Psychology (Granted permission, however, to evaluate a test used primarily in Educational Psychology.)

2. Brief Description of Test & Construct Measured: An 80 question, 10 scales (including anxiety, attitude & interest, concentration, information processing, motivation, self-testing, selecting main ideas, study aids, time management and test strategies diagnostic tool to help identify shortcomings in students’ learning skills and study patterns that may be improved through educational interventions. Can be administered individually or in groups.

3. Description of Standardization Sample: Norms were based on the responses from 1092 students (65% of whom were 19 years old or younger) entering one of 12 colleges or universities. Data based on age, gender and ethnicity were available, but norms were provided by scale scores only.

4. Reliability: Evidence of internal consistency is provided by coefficient alphas for each scale ranging from .73 to .89.

My evaluation: I would not use the LASSI if I were a practicing psychologist. My evaluation is based not only on the less than sterling evaluation of the MMY reviewers, but also on my unique perspective of 1.) Having just taken the LASSI, 2.) Being a person with learning differences not addressed by the LASSI, and 3.) Being a senior in college rather than a freshman just entering college. For example, 21 0f 80 questions (26%) would probably have been answered differently by a visual learner, Secondly, I am about to begin the second semester of my senior year. I just need a rest. The counsellor interpreted my LASSI Attitude and Interest (ATT) scale as a “lack of interest in college and academic success.” (It’s just burnout.) I have a 3.5 GPA in Psychology and hope to graduate this December. I plan to start my graduate work in the fall of 2016. She suggests that I take an aptitude test and think about pursuing another major (at the eleventh hour).