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In this episode, I sit down with renowned assessment expert Dr. Cecil R. Reynolds to discuss the upcoming release of the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Fourth Edition, widely known as the BASC-4. We dive into the complex science behind test construction, examining why regular revisions are necessary to combat the seven year half-life of psychological knowledge and adapt to shifting clinical realities. Dr. Reynolds shares an insider look at the specific updates featured in the new edition, including neurodiversity-affirming adjustments to item language, an upgraded autism index for early childhood, and the upcoming introduction of narrowband scales for ADHD, autism, and mood disorders. We also address the systemic challenges of test development, the critical ethical requirement to choose instruments capable of withstanding legal cross-examination, and how practitioners can directly advocate for the creation of an adult broadband equivalent of the BASC system.

00:35: The upcoming summer release timeline and rollout schedule for the BASC-4
01:18: The seven year half-life of psychological knowledge and the necessity of test revisions
06:40: Incorporating neurodiversity-affirming language into standardized items without sacrificing validity
11:17: New positive development metrics and expanded early childhood autism screening capabilities
23:26: The clinical functions and structural features of the upcoming BASC-4 narrowband scales
34:08: The psychometric dangers of diagnostic over-identification when using standalone narrowband tools
45:37: Selecting legally defensible instruments aligned with the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing
51:54: Market realities of the test publishing industry and the path forward for an adult broadband measure
01:00:21: Defining clinical efficacy and balancing workflow efficiency with scientific accuracy

Cool Things Mentioned

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Purchase the BASC-4
Join the BASC-4 webinar trainings:
- https://www.pearsonassessments.com/en-us/Store/Professional-Assessments/Behavior/Behavior-Assessment-System-for-Children-%7C-Fourth-Edition-/p/P100125000?productId=A103000453455
- https://www.pearsonassessments.com/en-us/Store/Professional-Assessments/Behavior/Behavior-Assessment-System-for-Children-%7C-Fourth-Edition-/p/P100125000?productId=A103000453456

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About Dr. Cecil Reynolds

Cecil Reynolds is author of what are now 4 editions of the Behavior Assessment System for Childre, with BASC-4 about to release in 3 weeks. He is also the author of more than 50 commercially published psychological tests and a frequent contributor to The Testing Psychologist.

Get in touch:

Email: crrh@earthlink.net

About Dr. Jeremy Sharp

I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents.

As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids.

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