Standardized Language Test Use: A Canadian Survey Utilisation d'un test de langage normalise: un sondage canadien

of the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists(CASLP A) with interests in child language were surveyed to examine their current use of norm- referenced tests, current measurement practices, and psychometric knowledge. Primary focus of the study centred on the frequency with which practices characterized as 'misuse' by McCauley and Swisher (1984b) occur. Specifically, these include the use of individual subtest items to establish treatment goals, use of profiles to characterize patterns of deficits, use of repeated standardized testadministration to measure treatment progress, and use of age-equivalent scores to summarize test results. Results indicate that clinician awareness of these 'misuses' is variable. Clinicians are aware of the problems associated with the use ofindividual subtest items to establish treatment goals and with the use of age-equivalent scores, yet continue to engage in these practices nonetheless. A large proportion of clinicians find profiles useful, but few are aware of the cautions which should accompany their use. Most speech-language pathologists use a combination of criterion-referenced procedures and standardized teststo measure treatment progress. As such, the use of the less sensitive standardized testsmay be interfering with accurate measurement of the effectiveness of the interve ntion provided. Consistent with the foregoing results, the survey revealed that few clinicians are fully confident with their psychometricknowledge.