Question 1

What outcome research strategy focuses on identifying therapeutic conditions,rather than specific treatment components,to determine effectiveness?

Accepted Answer

The outcome research strategy that focuses on identifying therapeutic conditions (such as alliance, empathy, therapeutic goals, etc.) rather than specific treatment components to determine effectiveness is known as the process research strategy. This type of research focuses on the therapy process and factors in the therapeutic relationship rather than the specific treatment techniques used. Therefore, the answer is B) Process.

Question 2

Which of the following is a true statement about program evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Program evaluations are carried out using established research methods to analyze data and determine the effectiveness of a program. While there may be standard guidelines for program evaluation, there is no one template that fits all programs. Program evaluations are not a quick and easy process and can take significant time and resources to complete. They are not limited to mental health clinics and can be applied to any program or intervention.

Question 3

In terms of effect size,counselors prefer a:

Accepted Answer

Counselors prefer a large effect size as it indicates that the intervention or treatment had a significant and meaningful impact on the client's well-being. A small effect size may not be clinically significant, and a medium effect size may be satisfactory but not optimal. The true effect size is not a term commonly used in counseling research.

Question 4

What outcome research strategy identifies components of treatment responsible for therapeutic success?

Accepted Answer

The dismantling research strategy involves breaking down a treatment into its individual components to identify which components are responsible for therapeutic success.

Question 5

In a ________________ research strategy,a counselor would assess the impact that inclusion of additional treatment components might have on a treatment that has already been found to be effective.

Accepted Answer

In a constructive research strategy, additional components are added to an already effective treatment to assess their impact.

Question 6

Which of the following could be considered a resource of a community?

Accepted Answer

All of the above are resources of a community. Money can be used to fund community projects and services, people can volunteer their time and skills to improve the community, and associations can provide resources and support for community members.

Question 7

What type of assessment use more qualitative data collection methods such as interviews?

Accepted Answer

Formative assessment often uses more qualitative data collection methods such as interviews to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their teaching and by students to improve their learning.

Question 8

When would be an inappropriate time to administer a satisfaction survey to a client?

Accepted Answer

Administering a satisfaction survey prior to starting counseling would be inappropriate as the client has not yet received any services so they cannot evaluate their satisfaction.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of a specific outcome measure?

Accepted Answer

The Beck Depression Inventory-II is a specific outcome measure designed to assess the severity of depression in individuals, making it a targeted tool for measuring a specific outcome.

Question 10

What is a drawback to using client satisfaction surveys to assess counseling outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Surveys may not always be valid as they can be influenced by various biases, such as clients wanting to please the counselor or not wanting to provide negative feedback.

Question 11

A number of individual differences could affect how well a treatment is delivered or received,such as counselor experience or client motivation.What outcome research strategy could be used to identify other individual variables that play a role in treatment effectiveness?

Accepted Answer

Client-counselor variation is an outcome research strategy that can be used to identify other individual variables that play a role in treatment effectiveness. This strategy involves comparing the outcomes of clients who have been treated by different counselors. By examining the differences in outcomes between clients who have been treated by different counselors, researchers can identify the individual variables that are most likely to be responsible for the differences in outcomes.

Question 12

What is an advantage of global outcome measures?

Accepted Answer

Global outcome measures provide a way to compare clients' scores to norm groups, which can be useful in determining the severity of a client's condition and tracking progress over time. This can help clinicians make informed decisions about treatment planning and interventions. The other options listed are not necessarily advantages of global outcome measures.

Question 13

What is the purpose of a program evaluation?

Accepted Answer

The primary purpose of a program evaluation is to determine the significance or merit of a program, including its effectiveness, efficiency, and impact on the intended audience. While other factors such as acceptability, assessment measures, and environmental conditions may also be considered in a program evaluation, these are typically secondary to the main goal of assessing the program's overall success and value.

Question 14

Counselors should select treatment strategies and interventions that are:

Accepted Answer

Counselors should select treatment strategies and interventions that are capable of producing change for the client, empirically sound, and research-based. This ensures that the interventions are effective, backed by research evidence, and can bring positive change to the client's life. Choosing interventions solely based on personal preference or intuition may not provide the best outcomes. Therefore, it is recommended to choose interventions that encompass all three criteria.

Question 15

Results of a program evaluation are intended to be:

Accepted Answer

Results of a program evaluation should be action-oriented, meaning they provide information on how to improve the program or make it more effective. While favorable results are desirable, they are not always realistic or helpful. Confidentiality may be important in certain circumstances, but it is not necessarily a characteristic of program evaluation results. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 16

Matthew is a counselor evaluating treatment outcomes for an intervention for depression.He assigns clients to two treatment groups where both groups receive the same intervention.The only difference is that one group receives the intervention for 2 hours a week and the second group receives the intervention for 1 hour a week.What type of outcome research strategy is Matthew conducting?

Accepted Answer

Matthew is conducting parametric research, which involves manipulating variables (in this case, the duration of the intervention) to see how it affects the outcome. This helps in understanding the effect of the quantity or intensity of treatment on depression.

Question 17

What type of assessment answers the question "did the program have a positive impact for its clients?"

Accepted Answer

Summative assessment is focused on determining the overall effectiveness of a program, product, or service. In the case of this question, the assessment is trying to determine if the program had a positive impact on its clients, which is an overall evaluation that fits into the category of a summative assessment.

Question 18

For a counselor to justify conclusions of a program evaluation,he or she needs to ensure that the conclusion is linked to:

Accepted Answer

The counselor needs to ensure that the conclusion is linked to the data collected during the program evaluation. This data may include quantitative data, such as surveys or assessments, as well as qualitative data, such as observations or interviews. The counselor should use this data to support their conclusions about the program's effectiveness, strengths, and areas for improvement. While initial needs assessments, wants and needs of stakeholders, and clinical judgment are all important considerations in program evaluation, they should not be the sole basis for justifying conclusions.

Question 19

Which of the following is a strategy to engage stakeholders and is used to identify strengths and resources in a community?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a strategy...

Question 20

A(n)________________ allows counselors to make informed programming decisions based on the service gaps,needs,and priorities in a given community.

Accepted Answer

A needs assessment is a process that identifies the needs of a particular community or population by identifying gaps in existing services, determining priorities, and identifying potential solutions. This information allows counselors to tailor their programming to meet the specific needs of the community they serve. Preliminary assessments are less in-depth, asset mapping is a process of identifying the resources available in a community, and stakeholder assessments identify the key individuals or groups with a vested interest in a particular issue.

Quiz 14: Outcome Assessment and Program Evaluation