Customer Reviews

Measures for Clinical Practice, 2nd Ed., Vol. 1

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Fischer and Corcoran complete another Herculean task with their 3rd edition of MEASURES FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE Volumes I and II. For each edition, the editors search the literature for instruments that demonstrate practical and research applications. They study and report on the calibration issues for each instrument. These issues include scoring, sampling, reliability and validity. Of course, they include the citations of their sources.

Although the primary audience for these volumes are clinicians and researchers (in that order), I have been using these volumes as a teaching tool. After giving a lecture on the meaning of reliability and validity, I have my students search out an instrument and assess the quality it. MEASURES FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE Volumes I and II are ideal sources for this assignment. They look at the instrument for face validity and read the editor's commentary on sampling, reliability and validity; then comment on the application in the practice arena.

Two limitations exist for these volumes. First, these are instruments for clinicians. The two volumes do not include any instruments that focus on macro variables that need to be measured. Perhaps a third volume should be considered for the next edition. Second, in terms of teaching instrument calibration to students, an expanded index would be most helpful. In the index, types of reliability and validity could be listed. Thus, students could hunt for an instrument that employs a technique they want to study.

Fischer and Corcoran must be applauded that their painstaking work.

This is a must for any organization that is in the business of providing mental health services. It is the bible of clinical measures.

the book is not worth much for me; I ordered it only because it was a required text by school I attend. Even the teacher did not want to use it. Not a good information source (searching google proves to much better!). You ended up making money, and that's the rest of the story!

A clear and succinct account of one of the true evils of our time! Status quo apologists and meritocracy fanatics, sadly, won't get the point, but, for the rest of us who strive to offer what we can to those in need and fight for a more equitable and just society, the book is a clear outline of just what needs to be eliminated for the betterment of all.