INFORMATION-GATHERING AND THERAPEUTIC MODELS OF ASSESSMENT - COMPLEMENTARY PARADIGMS

The authors reviewed the other articles in the special section and com mented on the use of psychological assessment to plan treatment. They call this view of assessment the information-gathering paradigm, becau se the goal is to collect data that will aid in communication and deci sion making about clients. This contrasts with the therapeutic model o f assessment, in which the major goal is to produce positive change in clients. The authors summarized evidence of the efficacy of assessmen t as a brief therapy and discussed its possible therapeutic mechanisms . The information-gathering and therapeutic models of assessment are c omplementary rather than mutually exclusive, and both speak to the uti lity of assessment The current crisis in the clinical use of psycholog ical assessment may be due in part to an overemphasis on the informati on-gathering model.