Behind closed doors: Assessing individuals from diverse backgrounds

This study surveyed 150 professionals on testing considerations made for clients' race/ethnicity and disability when (a) selecting tests, (b) administering tests, and (c) interpreting and writing results. Participants, who tested for the vocational rehabilitation system, completed a semi-structured survey online. Results indicated that they were more likely to consider clients' disability when selecting tests than race/ethnicity. During test administration, the majority reported not making adaptations or modifications (thus adhering to standardized instructions). However, participants were likely to factor clients' race/ethnicity and disability when interpreting results and writing reports. Content coding of open-ended responses revealed concerns when testing individuals who did not speak English fluently. An important area of research considering demographic shifts occurring in the United States, findings suggest the need to develop evidence-based practices when assessing culturally diverse populations.