N.M. Admin. Code § 16.22.2.15 - ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
A.
Confidential information. The psychologist shall treat the results
of a psychological assessment as confidential information subject to the same
rules and regulations as other patient information.
B.
Use of assessment in general and
with special populations. Psychologists who administer, score,
interpret, or use assessment techniques shall be familiar with reliability,
validity, standardization, comparative, and outcome studies of the techniques
they use and with the proper application and use of those techniques.
(1) The psychologist shall recognize limits
of the confidence with which diagnoses, judgments, or predictions can be made
about individuals.
(2) The
psychologist shall identify situations in which particular assessment
techniques or norms may not be applicable or may require adjustment in
administration or interpretation because of factors such as an individual's
gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation,
disability, language, or socioeconomic status.
C.
Communication of results. The
psychologist shall communicate results of the assessment to the client or
patient, parents, legal guardians, or other agents of the client or patient in
as clear and understandable a manner as reasonably possible and with respect
for the client or patient.
D.
Reservations concerning results. The psychologist shall include in
the assessment report the results of any limitations of the assessment
procedures as may apply to the reliability or validity of the assessment
techniques or the interpretation of results.
(1) Issues of individual differences, such as
language, ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic, religion, disability, and
lifestyle differences, should be carefully considered and addressed whenever
relevant.
(2) Any limitations of
results derived from the factors in Paragraph (1) of Subsection D of
16.22.2.15 NMAC should be clearly
stated in the psychological report. The psychological report of an individual
on whom psychological tests are not normed or adequately normed should clearly
indicate the limitations of the assessment and the need for caution in
interpreting test results.
E.
Information for professional
users.
(1) The psychologist offering
an assessment procedure or automated interpretation service to non-psychologist
professionals shall accompany this offering with information that fully
describes:
(a) the development of the
assessment procedure or service;
(b) evidence of validity and reliability;
and
(c) characteristics of the
normative population.
(2) The psychologist shall explicitly state
the purpose and application for which the procedure is recommended and identify
special qualifications required to administer and interpret it properly. The
psychologist shall ensure that advertisements for the assessment procedure or
interpretive service are factual and accurately descriptive.
F.
Assessing quality of
parenting in child custody evaluations. There may be situations in which
one parent is unavailable for direct evaluation due to geographic distance,
severe pathology, or refusal to participate. While the psychologist can assess
the quality of parenting of the available parent, no comparison can be made in
terms of which parent is better; nor can conclusions be derived about the
fitness or level of psychological functioning of the unavailable
parent.
G.
Collateral
contacts in child custody evaluations. The identification, extent, and
purpose of collateral contacts made in the course of an evaluation shall be
clearly explained early, even within the referral process. Collateral contacts
include people who represent a major presence in the children and parents'
environment.
H.
Test
settings. Clients or patients should take standardized tests in a
setting that will preserve the integrity of the tests and the information. When
possible, all assessment procedures and techniques should be administered in a
clinical setting.
I.
Single-test assessments. A single-test assessment should not be
the sole basis for major opinions or decisions.
J.
Outdated tests. The
psychologist shall not base assessments, decisions, or recommendations on
outdated tests or test data as defined in Paragraph (49) of Subsection A of
16.22.1.7 NMAC.
Notes
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