ASSIGNMENT 2-PYC 4807
STUDENT NO: 10926976
822799
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT-THE CASE STUDY OF BECKY
Nolwazi Londiwe Mthembu 2020
, CONTENTS PAGES
1. Introduction 2
2. Context and the aim 2
2.1 A summary of Becky’s case study 2
2.2 Influences of early development on later development 3
3. Compiling a test battery 4
3.1 Type of test and suitability 4
3.2 Infants & pre-school 4-5
3.3 The aim, purpose and normative information of (GMDS-ER) 5
3.4 Psychometric properties and research 5-6
3.5 Predictive validity 7-8
4. Administration 8-9
5. Ethical considerations 9
6. Interpretation of results and feedback 10-11
7. Tentative recommendations 12
8. Conclusion 13
9. Reference list 14-15
10. Plagiarism declaration 16
1|P ag e
, 1. Introduction
External factors have a great influence on the development of the child. In order to achieve exponential
growth children require good care and nurture from their primary care givers. Whatever happens in the
early years of child development is likely to have an effect on the child later on in their life. Early
intervention and assessment is advisable in order to be able to acquire information about their factors
formulated by their environment and to assist understanding what will temper the child’s development
and abilities to function in and around the family and community (Foxcroft and Roodt, 2009). When
assessing children it is important to consider every factor that affects them being their age, language,
home environment and resources (Foxcroft and Roodt, 2018). There is a link between development and
parents regardless of the socio-economic status parental support and encouragement does play a role in
early childhood development (Berger and Paxson, 2009). With regards to assessment, not every parent
will have the means to send their child to professionals for assessment thus resulting in late detection of
difficulties. Within the context of this essay the Griffiths Scales of Mental development will be linked to
the story of Becky who is just about 5 years old who is facing challenging development difficulties. The
measure chosen will ensure to account for validity which is the assurance of a measurement ensuring
what it is supposed to measure specifically predictive validity in this context (Foxcroft, Peterson and
Roodt, 2009).
2. Context and the aim
2.1 A summary of Becky’s case study
Becky is one month away from turn 5 years old thus we assume that she is a pre -schooler. What makes
Becky different from most kids is that her caregivers are not her biological parents but rather she is
adopted by parents who live in a rural area. Becky is Xhosa speaking and recently her adopted mother
recognized a difficulties in Becky’s speech and language as opposed to her peers. Becky has been referred
to a Speech and Language therapy service once when she was 3. Looking back into Becky’s history she
experienced neglect and a great lack of stimulation in her early years of childhood. Karen Horney outlines
the basic needs of children being respect, love, care, warmth and guidance and the consequences that
occur if children are not provided with these needs i.e. Neurosis. Still at the age of 3, Becky was referred
to the speech and language therapy service by her Pediatrician and picked up that she was 12 months
behind in her development with language and speech skills. This lead to Becky being assigned a
Counseling Psychologist for an advanced assessment.
2|P ag e
STUDENT NO: 10926976
822799
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT-THE CASE STUDY OF BECKY
Nolwazi Londiwe Mthembu 2020
, CONTENTS PAGES
1. Introduction 2
2. Context and the aim 2
2.1 A summary of Becky’s case study 2
2.2 Influences of early development on later development 3
3. Compiling a test battery 4
3.1 Type of test and suitability 4
3.2 Infants & pre-school 4-5
3.3 The aim, purpose and normative information of (GMDS-ER) 5
3.4 Psychometric properties and research 5-6
3.5 Predictive validity 7-8
4. Administration 8-9
5. Ethical considerations 9
6. Interpretation of results and feedback 10-11
7. Tentative recommendations 12
8. Conclusion 13
9. Reference list 14-15
10. Plagiarism declaration 16
1|P ag e
, 1. Introduction
External factors have a great influence on the development of the child. In order to achieve exponential
growth children require good care and nurture from their primary care givers. Whatever happens in the
early years of child development is likely to have an effect on the child later on in their life. Early
intervention and assessment is advisable in order to be able to acquire information about their factors
formulated by their environment and to assist understanding what will temper the child’s development
and abilities to function in and around the family and community (Foxcroft and Roodt, 2009). When
assessing children it is important to consider every factor that affects them being their age, language,
home environment and resources (Foxcroft and Roodt, 2018). There is a link between development and
parents regardless of the socio-economic status parental support and encouragement does play a role in
early childhood development (Berger and Paxson, 2009). With regards to assessment, not every parent
will have the means to send their child to professionals for assessment thus resulting in late detection of
difficulties. Within the context of this essay the Griffiths Scales of Mental development will be linked to
the story of Becky who is just about 5 years old who is facing challenging development difficulties. The
measure chosen will ensure to account for validity which is the assurance of a measurement ensuring
what it is supposed to measure specifically predictive validity in this context (Foxcroft, Peterson and
Roodt, 2009).
2. Context and the aim
2.1 A summary of Becky’s case study
Becky is one month away from turn 5 years old thus we assume that she is a pre -schooler. What makes
Becky different from most kids is that her caregivers are not her biological parents but rather she is
adopted by parents who live in a rural area. Becky is Xhosa speaking and recently her adopted mother
recognized a difficulties in Becky’s speech and language as opposed to her peers. Becky has been referred
to a Speech and Language therapy service once when she was 3. Looking back into Becky’s history she
experienced neglect and a great lack of stimulation in her early years of childhood. Karen Horney outlines
the basic needs of children being respect, love, care, warmth and guidance and the consequences that
occur if children are not provided with these needs i.e. Neurosis. Still at the age of 3, Becky was referred
to the speech and language therapy service by her Pediatrician and picked up that she was 12 months
behind in her development with language and speech skills. This lead to Becky being assigned a
Counseling Psychologist for an advanced assessment.
2|P ag e
