Week 6 Assignment: Family Assessments Comparison

Family Assessments

In
addition to understanding the systemic nature of family life, the
second major emphasis of this section is on the benefits and process of
conducting family based assessments with clients. Assessment is a
process of studying a person or group of people in order to come to
conclusions about what he, she, or they are like. Often the result of
assessment includes a decision as to whether the person or persons
is/are “normal.” As such, it is important for therapists to grapple with
the question of what “normal” is and of how much variation can be
allowed within that definition.

Specifically, for this week, you
will review three commonly used family assessments (FACES, SFI, and
FAD). To start this week, examine each of the instrument samples
provided and read each of the assigned articles and chapters related to
these models/assessments.

Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES; based on Olson’s Circumplex model)

1. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES)
2. Olson, D. E., & Gorall, D. M. (2003). Circumplex model of marital and family systems.

Self-report Family Inventory (SFI; based on the Beavers model)

1. The Dallas Self-report Family Inventory (SFI)
2. Hampson, R., Hulgus, Y., & Beavers, W. (1991). Comparisons of
   self-report measures of the Beavers Systems Model and Olson’s Circumplex
   Model.

Family Assessment Device (FAD; based on the McMaster model)

1. The Family Assessment Device (FAD)
2. Epstein, N.B., Bishop, D. S., & Levin, S. (1978). The McMaster Model of Family Functioning.
3. Epstein, N. B., Baldwin, L. M., & Bishop, D. S. (1983). The McMaster Family Assessment Device.
4. Miller, I. W., Epstein, N. B., Bishop, D. S., & Keitner, G. I.
   (1985). The McMaster Family Assessment Device: Reliability and Validity.

Be sure to carefully review this week’s resources. You will be
expected to apply the information from these resources when you prepare
your assignments.

Document/OtherReferenceInstruction

FACES Assessment
FACES III and scoring instructions.pdf.pdf

Review Document

FAD Assessment
FAD Assessment and Scoring Instructions.pdf.pdf

Review Document

SFI Assessment
SFI- Assessment and Scoring Instructions.pdf.pdf

Review Document

Week 6 Assignment: Family Assessments Comparison

1.0 Distinguish the nature and uses of psychological tests, addressing the unique features of the systems-based assessment.

3.0 Critique the usefulness of specific individual, couple, and family assessments.

4.0 Implement systems theory and systemic thinking into the process of family assessment.

5.0
Appraise the validity of the definitions of what is “normal” in family
life that are given in established theories of family functioning that
underlie common family assessments.