THEORETICAL EVALUATION SELF-TEST

AN INTERACTIVE TEST OF THEORETICAL ORIENTATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS OR GRADUATE STUDENTS.

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Scroll down to begin to take the Theoretical Evaluation Self Test (TEST), a scale of therapist theoretical orientation. (or click here) This interactive web version does not save or transmit your scores, it is for your educational use only.

TEST was created by Dan Coleman, MSW, Ph.D., a professor at Portland State University Graduate School of Social Work.

You may also download a printable version of TEST in Microsoft Word. (If you are using Internet Explorer, it may open the file as a Word document in explorer. Click on "save as" under the File menu to save the TEST to disk. It is designed to be printed two-sided on on legal size paper, and to be folded into a booklet with the scoring guide folded over.)

Click here to download the MS Word version of TEST.

Citations for TEST:

Coleman, D. (2007). Further factorial validity of a scale of therapist theoretical orientation. Research in Social Work Practice 17(4), 474-481.

Coleman, D. (2004). The Theoretical Evaluation Self Test (TEST): A Preliminary Validation Study. Social Work Research 28(2), 117-128. (Refereed)

Coleman, D. (2003). Learning about Therapy Theories: An Empirical Test of an Experiential Technique. Journal of Teaching in Social Work 23(3/4), 73-89. (Refereed)

Coleman, D. (2002). Personal Therapy: A Catalyst to Relational Awareness. Irish Journal of Psychology 23(1-2), 73-85. (Refereed)

If you have any questions or concerns before you take TEST, please click here dcoleman@pdx.edu to send an email to Dr. Coleman.

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Instructions: TEST is an educational tool as well as a research instrument, so it is designed to give immediate feedback on your theoretical preferences.

Select the number which best reflects your agreement or disagreement with each item. When completed, you will have an opportunity to receive and interprete your score.

TIP: Use "Tab" to move from response to response.

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1. One central therapeutic factor is the symbolic recreation of a nurturing caretaker relationship with the therapist.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

2. The therapist should educate the client about the relationship of patterns of cognition and many mental health problems.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

3. The therapist's unconditional positive regard for the client is a crucial therapeutic factor.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

4. It is important for therapists to see clients together with their families.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

5. The therapeutic alliance is important primarily to provide a foundation for collaborative case management.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

6. Human behavior is shaped by patterns of reinforcements and punishments in the environment.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

7. Change occurs in therapy because of the therapist's empathic, non-judgmental,positive attitude towards the client.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

8. Psychoeducation about the benefits and side effects of medications is an important part of treatment.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

9. Dreams discussed in therapy can uncover significant unconscious wishes, conflicts and feelings.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

10. Most psychotherapy theories are distractions from the central task of solving the client's problems.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

11. Advocacy with other providers on behalf of clients is a central role of the therapist.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

12. It is important for the therapist to respond to clients with spontaneous, genuine affect.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

13. Primary emphasis should be placed on the client's interactions with his or her family.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

14. The role of the therapist is to advise and guide the client.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

15. Client's problems are often caused by negative patterns of thinking.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

16. Psychological problems vary with the culture of the client.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

17. Many mental health problems are effectively treated with medication.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

18. The therapist should be active, directive and goal-oriented.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

19. Client's problems are often contributed to by social problems and gaps in the social service system.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

20. It is important to attend to what the client is projecting onto the therapist.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

21. The therapist should teach clients techniques to address problem areas.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

22. When one person in a family is experiencing problems, it is usually the expression of family communication and relationship problems.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

23. Many clients can benefit from psychiatric medication.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

24. It is important to assess not only the person seeking services, but his or her environment as well.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

25. Change occurs in therapy through restoring healthy family structures.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

26. It is essential for therapists to be aware of the values and worldview of their own culture and how they might affect clients.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

27. Change occurs in therapy because of the client's insight into characteristic ways of relating with others set in early childhood.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

28. It is helpful to ask questions to lead the client to realize their mistakes or misperceptions.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

29. There is evidence that most mental health problems have biological causes.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

30. Denial, repression, intellectualization and other defense mechanisms are important to understanding psychology.

1=strongly disagree

2=disagree

3= mildly disagree

4= neutral

5=mildly agree

6=agree

7=strongly agree

Enter 1-7 here

Click on "Compute" to calculate and display your scores in the table below.

INTERPRETING YOUR RESULTS

SUBSCALE	YOUR SCORE	SAMPLE OF 130
		mean (SD)
Psychodynamic		26.2 (5.2)
Biological		14.6 (4.0)
Family		18.2 (4.0)
Ecosystems		24.2 (2.6)
Cognitive		25 (4.5)
Pragmatic		20.1 (5.7)
Humanistic		10.4 (2.4)

INTERPRETING YOUR SCORE: The subscales used to add up your scores(psychodynamic, biological, etc) are derived from a factor analysis of the responses of 130 subjects. See below for sample information. Some participants have found it helpful to refer back to their responses to individual items to see if there are parts of a theory they tend to agree with more or less. The column, "Sample of 130", provides the means and standard deviations of the sample of 130 community clinicians. Since these are from one selectively drawn sample, they provide a reference point but are not "norms". (These are means of the summed scale scores, not standarized to the 1 item level). To aid you in interpretation of the mean +/- 1 standard deviation would include 68% of the sample, and +/- 2 standard deviations would include 95% of the sample. One caution is that the reliability of the scale is adequate to discriminate group differences, but not individual differences. These scores should be used to stimulate reflection, but not as precise measurements of individual theoretical orientation. Sample Information: (n=130) Fifty-six (43%) of the subjects were MSW students, and 74 (57%) were practicing clinicians. Ninety-three (72%) were social work associated (students and practitioners) and 37 (28%) were from the other mental health professions. The average age of subjects was 35 (sd=13.7). The average practice experience of practictioners was 13.8 years (sd=11.2).
Use the scroll bar to the right of the text box to find out how you can interpret your score.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding TEST, please click here dcoleman@pdx.edu to send an email to Dr. Daniel Coleman.

Last Updated: 7 September 2008