Indirect Assessment
Also called: informant assessment, interview, rating scale, questionnaire
Definition
Gathering information about a behavior from people who know the person — through interviews, checklists, rating scales and record reviews — rather than by observing the behavior directly. It is quick and useful for planning, and its results are reports about behavior rather than measures of it, so they are treated as a starting point.
In plain language
Asking people who know the person about the behavior, using interviews or forms. Quick and helpful, but it is what people remember, not what was observed.
Example
A structured interview with a parent about when the behavior is most and least likely and what usually follows it.
Not indirect assessment
Sitting in the classroom and recording each occurrence. That is direct observation.
Commonly confused with
See also
Written from
- hanley-iwata-mccord-2003
Written from Hanley, Iwata and McCord (2003). No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.