Page 287 - DEDU502_GUIDANCE_AND_COUNSELING_ENGLISH

Unit 26: Testing and Non-Testing Techniques: Psychological Tests

Sensitive information concerning extreme behaviour likely to be harmful if made public, should be Notes
carefully dealt with and kept in the counsellor’s confidential file. Specialist interpretation from the
cumulative records helps the staff members to identify deviant behaviour and thereby assist the
individual student.
26.2.5 Pupil Data Questionnaires
The pupil data questionnaires consist of items regarding the student’s home, family, health,
educational and vocational plans, out-of-school and in-school activitics, study habits, etc.
The pupil data questionnaires (1) are used to obtain comprehensive information dealing with the
student as he is now, employing both idiographic and normative data, (2) serve as a supplement to
incomplete information available about students and (3) improve the collection of data in an efficient
manner.

26.2.6 Sociometric Techniques
Sociometric techniques measure the inter-personal preferences among the members of a group in
reference to a criterion. The purpose of this technique is to measure each individual’s social worth
or personal value as viewed by his peers. According to Barclay (1966), sociometry is a method of
discovering and analyzing patterns of friendship within a group setting.
Sociometric technique or testing falls into two categories, namely (l) the use of choices or specific
criteria to serve a particular purpose at a particular time and (2) questionnaires or rating instruments
which measure inter-personal attitudes and feelings but not in respect to a specific criterion.
The advantage of the sociometric technique is that it provides objective information about the
functioning of individuals within their groups. When this is viewed along with information obtained
by the use of other tools by the counsellor, it gives a complete picture of the individual.
However, it should be borne in mind that sociometric tests do not give exact answers. Their theories
have not been well developed and the postulates have also not been tested. But these limitations can
also be extended to the interpretation and application of other test results. Thus the limitations are
not very specific to sociometric tests.
26.2.7 Case Study
A case study is an analysis and documentation of data collected in a case history. It comprises the
information gathered about a client, including the family history, physical development, etc.
Educational, social and vocational history is also covered in the case study.
The case study presents a cumulative picture of the personality of an individual. The information is
gathered from sources, such as cumulative records, observations, interviews, autobiographies, self-
reports, tests, teacher reactions and other school records. The school counsellor writes the case
study which provides an increased understanding of the pupil.
While most of the guidance personnel accept the value of case studies, a few counsellors feel that
nothing new is obtained from a formal case history. It cannot be of great assistance to the clients.
The counsellors believe that any solution not coming directly from the counsellee is valueless and,
therefore, they conclude that diagnosis based on case study is fruitless. While this is a plausible
point, it cannot be over-emphasized that a case study does help to provide and clarify the vast
amount of information needed for the understanding of a particular pattern of behaviour of the
client.
Case histories generally tend to be full of gaps and sometimes relevant information may not be
forthcoming. It is not necessary here to list the limitations and to suggest the various safeguards that
a counsellor should employ.
Case histories conventionally cover areas, such as:
1. Identifying information —name, age, sex, etc.

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