Standards of Care for Assessment in Group Work

Abstract

The Standards of Care for Assessment in Group Work represent a collaborative effort between the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC) and the Associaton for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW). The purpose of these standards is to address the distinctive aspects of group work assessment that group workers often overlook and may lead to ineffective or invalid assessment. Examples of these considerations include the overuse of one method of data collection (self-report) in group work assessment, the importance of using appropriate and culturally relevant assessments in groups with diverse members, and intentionally identifying the difference between assessing group process versus group outcomes. The committee’s goal was to develop standards that highlight the importance of pre-ferred practices in group work assessment and for counselors to use them in conjunction with other standards related to measurement and assessment in counseling.

Keywords:

• Group work
• assessment
• standards

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Caitlyn Bennett

Caitlyn Bennett is an Assistant Professor of Counseling and Director of the Cornell Counseling Clinic at Rollins College.

Ashley Blount

Ashley Blount is an Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Her research interests include Wellness Counseling, Women’s Health, and Athletes and Former Athletes.

Jennifer Gerlach

Jennifer Gerlach, PhD, NCC, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Katy Schroeder

Katy Schroeder, PhD, NCC, is an Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

Clark D. Ausloos

Clark D. Ausloos, PhD, LPC, LPSC, NCC, serves as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Denver and practices clinically in Northwest Ohio.

Zachary Bloom

Zachary Bloom is an assistant professor at Northeastern Illinois University.

Kristopher M. Goodrich

Kristopher M. Goodrich is the Associate Dean for Research and Distance Education and a Professor of Counselor Education at the University of New Mexico.

K. Michelle Hunnicutt Hollenbaugh

K. Michelle Hunnicutt Hollenbaugh is an Associate Professor in the Counseling and Educational Psychology Department at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi.

John Taylor

John M. Taylor, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Saint Louis University School of Nursing.