Testing the Reliability and Validity of an Interviewing Skills Evaluation Tool for Use in Practicum

Abstract

This study investigated the reliability and validity of a rating checklist for student process-recorded interviews in an effort to provide field education with an empirically sound feedback and evaluation tool. A stratified, nonproportional sample of practitioner-field instructors (n = 57) from B.S.W., first- and second-year M.S.W. field programs at three universities evaluated process-recorded interviews of their own students, as well as anonymous student work. The checklist was a highly consistent (r = .96) and unbiased measurement tool. The checklist also was shown to have content, concurrent, and predictive validity. A rationale and suggestions for its use in field education is presented.

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