Continuing & Professional Studies, Palo Alto University

This self-paced training program on Forensic Psychological Assessment in Custody Litigation: Conceptual Issues, Data Integration, and Advanced Topics is presented by David Martindale, PhD, ABPP.

This training program presents instruction on interviewing methods designed to yield data most relevant to the issues before the court, and the processes to be employed in the integration of those data with data obtained through the administration of formal assessment instruments. Basic concepts of psychological assessment are discussed, with emphasis on test selection criteria, reliability, validity (in its various forms), and the manner in which testing conditions effect the reliability and validity of test data. Suggestions are offered regarding ways to effectively explain assessment findings in reports.

Data integration discussions include comparing and contrasting test data with other data sources, the use of test data in the development of recommendations and how to discuss testing in written and verbal testimony. Additional topics include a discussion of the inclusion of test data in evaluators’ reports, disclosure of test data and disclosure of test materials.

Specific instruments used by child custody evaluators are discussed in detail. Instruments discussed are those administered for personality variables (e.g., MMPI-2, PAI, MCMI), child behavior (e.g., CBCI, BASC-3, Connors), parent-child relationships (e.g., PSI-2, PCRI), including a discussion of various specific focus tests (e.g., PPI-R, TSI-2, Rorschach), and tests of questionable utility (e.g., Bricklin Scales, Projective Drawings, TAT).

The presenters discuss configural analysis, hypothesis testing, means by which to take situational variables into consideration, response style issues, the use of computer-based test interpretations (CBTIs), and practitioner interpretation.