Dynamic assessment is a recently developed, interactive approach to
psychoeducational assessment that follows a test-intervene-retest
format, focuses on learning processes and modifiability, and provides
the possibility of direct linkage between assessment and intervention.
The second book on the topic by Dr. Lidz, this volume is a hands-on
guide that is designed specifically for practitioners who engage in
diagnostic assessment related to the functioning of children in school.
It reviews and critiques current models of dynamic assessment and
presents the research available on these existing models. But primarily,
this is a text to help practitioners carry out an actual dynamic
assessment procedure.
The book includes two comprehensive manuals, each providing theoretical
background, descriptions of procedures, forms, and reviews of available
research. The first manual describes the Mediated Learning Experience
Rating Scale. This scale adapts Feuerstein's concept of MLE, postulated
to describe adult activities within an adult-child interaction that
facilitate the child's cognitive development. The scale is useful for
assessment and consultation with both parents and teachers and, in
addition, it also describes the behavior of the assessor during the
course of dynamic assessment.
The second manual describes the author's model for dynamic assessment.
This model rests on a theory of neuropsychological foundations of mental
processing as developed by Luria and elaborated by Naglieri and Das. The
model preserves the test-intervene-retest format, focuses on learner
modifiability and, most significantly, links the assessment with
educational interventions.
Detailing the implementation of an actual dynamic assessment procedure
that is linked with educational interventions, this book is a valuable
guide for diagnostic assessors from a wide variety of backgrounds
including school, clinical, and counseling psychology, as well as
special and regular education and speech and language pathology.
PRACTITIONER'S GUIDE TO DYNAMIC ASSESSMENT also serves as a text for
advanced graduate courses in assessment.
