​​​​​​​Assessments

Data collection is the "process of tracing and gathering information  from the many sources of background information on a child such as school records, observation, parent intakes and teacher reports" (Pierangelo & Giuliani, 2012, p. 5).

 

Basic Concepts of Data Gathering

 

Professionals and stakeholders in the assessment process should be able to accurately describe the student's problem and be able to identify the student's strengths that need reinforcement and challenges that need to be improved or changed.

 

The collection of data should be multi-dimentional and interdisciplinary for an assessment to be thorough and relevant.

 

Those involved in the assessment of exceptional students must guard against unconsciously placing the students under preconceived diagnostic category.

 

Approaches to Data Collection

 

Systematic observations - these are teacher and other professional observations made on the student in an IEP or in other forms that can provide an individualized, accurate, verifiable and detailed information about the student's current level of performance. The frequency (daily, weekly) and duration of observations are dependent on the individual needs of students.

 

Standardized assessments are used to document performance over a period of time. Data from standardized tests should be valid and reliable. The information collected through this mechanism allows its comparison with other students at the normal levels of social, intellectual and psychomotor development.

 

The interview as a data collection approach is a powerful tool in acquiring information about the student from parents, guardians and other caregivers that are otherwise not manifested in a school setting or in a controlled environment.