When considering a "normative" approach to interpreting a patient's score on an assessment instrument, the psychologist is interested in comparing the patient's score with

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A normative approach involves comparing an individual's score with the scores of a comparable subgroup or norm group. This provides context for interpreting the score and determining the individual's level of functioning compared to others with similar characteristics. Comparing the score to all persons who have taken the test or earlier scores for the same patient would not provide adequate context for interpretation. Comparing the score to scores of persons not in treatment may be useful in some cases, but it is not the primary focus of a normative approach.

When Considering a "Normative" Approach to Interpreting a Patient's Score