McDermott multidimensional assessment of children: Paul A. McDermott and Marley W. Watkins. San Antonio: Psychological Corporation, 1985. Manual and Diskettes 1 through 9, complete package (100 classifications and 100 IEPs), $1,000.00. Apple IIe, IBM-PC.

摘要

The M-MAC system provides many notable services for those individuals who conduct psychoeducational evaluations. The somewhat critical tone of this review does not do total justice to McDermott and Watkins, who together have addressed many of the rhorny problems associated with effectively combining measurement concerns with assessment realities. The negative aspects of the program outlined in the above review will need to be weighed against the contributions the program may make toward intelligent assessment practices.Unfortunately, the M-MAC program may stimulate in many a feeling of technological pseudosophistication that exceeds the already lofty point upon which psychometrics have rested for decades. Although I personally want to commend the authors of M-MAC for their attention to details and careful program development, I also question whether our current assessment procedures and devices are sufficiently developed to warrant this much attention. Granted, if a system such as M-MAC will improve our classification and placement accuracy and lead to improved instruction and remediation, then the program truly will be a blessing. However, throughout the evaluation of the many components of this program I continually found myself asking, “Are McDermott and Watkins making a silk purse from a sow's ear?”