INFORMAL ASSESSMENT

Informal Assessment

Informal Assessment

Introduction

This paper shall be dealing with a case study of George, Theresa, L.B and J.J, a husband wife and their two children a boy and girl, ages 7 and 3. George is a middle aged man who was pretty happy with his life even though it was pretty hectic as it were. He worked 40-50 hours a week and then picked his kids from his mom's and did other small chores around the house. Theresa once an ideal wife had suddenly sunk in a bad fit of depression. She cried all the time and neglected their youngest child, J.J, who was said to be developing autism, being 3 years old and still unable to speak. The study is regarding the informal assessment which the psychologist can make for the diagnosis.

Discussion

What types of informal assessments might you use to help George and his family?

Informal Assessments is an assessment procedure that obtains information or data regarding a subject's behavior and characteristics by the use of any means except the standardized data collecting instrument or equipments. These might include observations, interviews, checklists, evaluation cards, etc.

In George's case I can use the following informal assessment methods to evaluate the situation.

Observation:

Even though it doesn't seem like much, observation is one of the most effective means of assessing any person or situation. I would like to access the mother and her children in their natural environment, i.e. at their home. Either physically or I would like to ask George to make some clips of them at the house, so I can see their behavior. All Psychologists believe the behavior is the biggest clue to finding out what is wrong in a persons' mind, body or anything else. It is the first thing which changes.

Judging by George's own statement, Theresa has suddenly and drastically exhibited a behavior change from being a happy, perky, ideal and loving wife to a constantly depressed, oppressive wife. He says so himself,

“My Teresa used to be fun. Now she is just not herself. I say “What's wrong with J.J., Teresa?”….. and Teresa just cries.”

This shows that there has been a huge behavior change in the life of Theresa which has severely depressed her or something. I need to observe her behavior myself, so as to deduce the influencing factors of her constant depression and grief.

Running Record:

I will be maintaining a running record of the entire ...