ABSTRACT
Within the last 5–10 years, significant interest has been sparked in behavioral assessment. Attesting to this has been the increasing number of texts devoted to this topic (e.g., Hersen & Bellack, 1981; Mash & Terdal, 1981; Ollendick & Hersen, 1984) as well as the publishing of two journals (Behavioral Assessment; Journal of Behavioral Assessment). In the late 1960s while some authors discussed the need for a new approach to psychological assessment consistent with the behavioral orientation (Goldfried & Pomeranz, 1968; Kanfer & Saslow, 1969; Mischel, 1968), few actually elaborated specific methods. During recent years, however, the methodology of behavioral assessment has emerged as a distinct approach to the evaluation of behavior. This chapter describes these methods with emphasis upon their application to school settings. Readers are encouraged to refer to Haynes (1978) or any of the previously named texts for a more detailed account of the general methodology of behavioral assessment.
