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Since 2002, 4 million visitors plus:
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A way of testing that uses a simple approach. This approach does not meet state standards but others are using it so why can't we! Following are the eight rules of NONSENSE: 1. Number of tests: The more the merrier! Don't choose a few well normed, statistically valid and reliable tests for your battery. Whole tests are time consuming. Instead give as many tests, or preferably subtests of tests, as you can in the time allotted for evaluation. The more you give the better. Remember, the more tests given, the easier it is to find the problem and to be the expert. 2. Opinion: This is extremely valuable and refers only to your opinion. What you think is probably true so use it to your advantage. Don't ever call it opinion though. Dress it up and call it "clinical judgment." Your clinical judgment is better than any test, and better yet, who can challenge it? 3. Norming samples: They don't really matter. Tests are published and therefore they are good. Publisher wouldn't sell a test if it weren't doing what it says it is and if it weren't a good test. If the number of children in the norming sample happens to be low, that's okay. Parents don't need to know that the judgment being made about their 3rd grade child's ability is based on only 5 3rd graders. No one in a team meeting will ever dare to challenge you anyway. You're the expert. (Remember rule #8 and if you follow rule #5, no one will ever be able to challenge you.) Let the child you test be the norm sample. 4. Standardization procedure: Digress from standard practice all you want. Really how much can that effect a score? You know best how to evaluate. Raise or lower scores when necessary by careful probing. It wont matter that the manual says not to, your the boss and you have a job to do. Remember rule #2. Prove what you set out to prove. 5. Esoterica: Using many unknown or little used tests is always best. They are hard to challenge and have a strong tendency to show what you know to be true. It will be difficult to prove your judgment wrong when no one can dispute the tests. Subrule 5a: Never provide the norms to others. You spent valuable time finding the norms you use. If you had to find them, so shouldn't everyone else! 6. Nothing wrong?: This is impossible. If you evaluated properly, you will find the offensive problem. Remember, you're an expert. If you don't find it, someone smarter and with more experience or better clinical judgment will surely find it. When in doubt, return to rule #1. Give more. Keep looking. You'll find it. 7. Statistics are not important: If challenged, remember and use Mark Twain's remark about lies: "There are three kinds of lies: Big lies, little lies, and damned statistics." Disregard the statement of Johnson: "Beautiful ideas are often destroyed by ugly facts." No one will remember that one anyway. Quoting Mark Twain increases your stature and reinforces rule #8. 8. Expert: That's you. Don't forget it. Act like it. That's why you are paid so much.
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