Examples of Well-Written Items
1. A 27 year old with rheumatoid arthritis in her hands comes to the rehabilitation counselor for help. While the medical report indicates that hand functioning can be improved via orthopedic surgery and physical therapy, both the client and the counselor are unable to identify feasible vocational choices. The rehabilitation counselor should:
a. send the client to vocational evaluation immediately.
b. send the client to vocational evaluation after orthopedic surgery.
c. close the case as non-feasible for vocational rehabilitation.
d. arrange for a
psychological evaluation.
Reference Source: Rubin, S.E. and Roessler, T.T. (1978). Foundation of the vocational rehabilitation process. Baltimore: University Park Press. pp. 42-43.
2. Vocational rehabilitation services are available for blind or otherwise disabled persons under the age of 65 who qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). On the other hand, persons receiving this disability compensation benefit who refuse vocational rehabilitation services without sufficient cause are:
a. required to repay all SSI payments received.
b. transferred by SSI to local Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
c. continued on SSI rolls for a maximum of 12 additional payments.
d.
ineligible to continue receiving SSI payments.
Reference Source: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Social Security Administration. (1982). Social security handbook.
Washington, DC: Author. pp. 219-225.
Examples of Poorly-Written Items
1. Under the Railroad Retirement Act, vocational rehabilitation services are:
a. provided only by qualified rehabilitation professionals.
b.
provided when a disability is considered as permanent in nature.
c. provided when
a disability is considered as occupational in nature.
d. none of the above.
Reference Source: Author of the item.
Discussion: This item, submitted for the CIRS examination, is unacceptable for the following reasons:
- The stem does not describe a problem or situation encountered by the insurance rehabilitation specialist
- The responses are not necessarily exclusionary: that is, more than one answer could apply.
- "None of the above" responses are not permitted. More important, there is little sense in writing questions that ask what is not correct.
- A published and verifiable reference source is not provided.
2. Job placement is best achieved when the rehabilitation counselor:
a. sends the client to an employment agency.
b. contacts potential employers by mail.
c.
instructs the client in effective job seeking behavior.
d. looks through
the newspaper want ads with the client.
Reference Source: J.B. West, Farmer's Journal
Discussion: This item, submitted for the CRC examination, is unacceptable for the following reasons:
- The stem does not describe a problem or situation encountered by the rehabilitation counselor.
- The reference source is not a recognized journal relevant to the rehabilitation profession.
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