ERIC Number: ED665752
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 74
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-7282-5744-8
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Teacher Perceptions of Psychological Reports: An Empirical Comparison of District Evaluators' and Contracted Evaluators' Report Styles
Peter Stern
ProQuest LLC, Psy.D. Dissertation, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Across the country, school districts are increasingly seeking out privately contracted psychologists to conduct psychological evaluations. As such, it is increasingly important that psychological reports adhere to best practices and are written to ensure comprehension by both parents and teachers. This study explored the potential differences between psychological reports written by district evaluators and contracted evaluators, as well as differences in teacher perception of psychological reports between general and special education teachers. An online survey was distributed to teacher participants, who were asked to read a redacted report randomly selected from a field of 18 and to rate specific aspects of the report as well as assign an overall rating score. A comparison of mean rating scores showed that there was no significant difference in report ratings based on whether the writer was a district evaluator or contractor. There were significant differences in mean ratings between general education and special education teachers related to readability and use of jargon. This study also examined the average reading and grade level of psychological evaluations, using a randomly selected sample of 180 reports. The results showed that the average grade level and reading level of the sample reports is significantly higher than the recommended levels. Additionally, a significant difference was found in reading level between district evaluators' and contractors' reports. Lower grade levels and higher reading ease scores were found to be strengths of contractor reports, while district evaluator reports were stronger at explaining specific tests and why they were used and contained less psychological jargon. The implications of these results are that psychologists of all types should adjust course to ensure the target audience can better read and understand the results of psychological evaluations. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Teacher Attitudes, Psychological Evaluation, Psychological Testing, School Personnel, Private Agencies, Evaluators, Interrater Reliability, Evaluation Methods, Individual Characteristics, Language Styles, Usability, Comparative Testing
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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