A victim is a person that has been wronged, persecuted or abused. Victims of physical, emotional and mental abuse represent the patients (clients) that "victim tests" are designed to evaluate. By definition, victims generate special evaluation consideration. Evaluators' feelings, (concern, compassion, empathy, etc) often inadvertently hinder or impede objective assessment. For example, examiners may minimize or even avoid questioning victims' truthfulness, substance abuse involvement, family issues, violence questions, or suicide proneness. Yet these areas of inquiry often warrant evaluation. The victim tests presented in this website explore many of these topics, but in an objective professional manner.

Six "victim tests" are presented in this website: four are adult (male and female) tests and two are juvenile (male and female) tests. The following links take you to test discussions on this webpage.

Each of the victim test webpage's are also on Behavior Data Systems (BDS) website www.bdsltd.com These test webpages are very informative and discuss cost, Truthfulness Scales, Substance (alcohol and other drugs) Abuse, research, scale score interpretations, and present an example report.

Upon entering www.bdsltd.com, there are navigational links in the left margin of each webpage. Click on Adult (or Juvenile) Tests, then click on Tests Alphabetically Listed and scroll down to the test that is of interest to you. Click on the test's name and you will go to that test's webpage.

An alternative test administration option is available at BDS's online (internet) testing platform www.online-testing.com. BDS is converting its tests so they will also be available over the internet or online at www.online-testing.com.

Human Voice Audio. Test presentation is in English and Spanish. Client's passive vocabularies (what they hear and understand) are often greater than their active (what they speak) vocabularies. Hearing items read in their preferred language often helps reduce communication and cultural difference problems. Human Voice Audio administration requires earphones, a computer, and simple "arrow key" up-down instructions. Test instructions and items are presented on the computer screen and simultaneously read to the client. The client can highlight new items that are presented on their monitor and simultaneously read and hear them read over their earphones. Human Voice Audio is discussed in depth on BDS's website, www.bdsltd.com

Confidentiality (HIPAA Compliance). Each of the victim tests discussed on this website are HIPAA (Federal Regulation 45 C.F.R. 164.501) compliant. When respondent names are deleted from test diskettes before they are returned to BDS, these names are gone and cannot be retrieved. Deleting names insures client confidentiality, and HIPAA compliance. These tests are also ASAM compatible.

Truthfulness Scale. The Truthfulness Scale identifies denial, problem minimization, and attempts to "fake good" or lie. Many consider Truthfulness Scales as a necessary component in contemporary assessment instruments and tests. All of BDS's tests, let alone their victim tests, have Truthfulness Scales with impressive reliability and validity. These Truthfulness Scales have been validated with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) polygraph examinations, other tests, etc. In some respects, BDS's Truthfulness Scale is similar to the MMPI L and F Scales.

Cost. Behavior Data Systems, Ltd (BDS) (www.bdsltd.com) and BDS's online (internet) testing platform (www.online-testing.com) have their own cost (test unit fees) webpages. Cost, volume discounts, etc are discussed on the following linked pages. To examine BDS's cost page, click on this BDS cost link. Similarly, to review online (internet) testing's cost page, click on this Online Cost link.

Free Examination Kit A one-test demonstration diskette is available from BDS regarding its diskettes (25 or 50 tests per diskette) and the tests they contain. Perhaps the best single source of such testing is in BDS's www.bdsltd.com website. Similarly, BDS's online (internet) testing program makes the first test used - free. This is to familiarize evaluators with the testing procedure they use before testing one of their clients/patients. Instructions are easy to follow, but if a test user would like a BDS staff person to walk them through our testing procedure, they should call (602) 234-3506 and request assistance. Demonstration diskette or examination kits are to be returned within 30 days.

www.online-testing.com When you purchase a new computer, it may not have a disc drive. An external disc drive costs around $40.00. An alternative test administration option is available at BDS's online (internet) testing platform www.online-testing.com. BDS is converting its tests so they will also be available online. For more information, visit www.online-testing.com

Inventory of Scientific Findings. Each tests research is summarized in its "Inventory of Scientific Findings". This document summarizes much of the test research chronologically as these research studies were completed. Interested parties should click on a test's "research" link: Victim Index, Self-Audit, Treatment Intervention Inventory (TII), TII-Juvenile, and Suicide Evaluation.

Example Reports. An example report for each victims test is available for review. Click on the tests example report link that is of interest to you. Example report links: Victim Index, Self-Audit, Treatment Intervention Inventory (TII), TII-Juvenile, and Suicide Evaluation.

Reading Impaired Assessment Reading impaired victims represent 15 to 20 percent of victims tested. BDS has developed a proprietary alternative that enables many reading impaired (not illiterate) victims to be tested. This reading impaired aid, or alternative is called Human Voice Audio. To learn more about human voice audio, click on this Human Voice Audio Link.

Scale Score Interpretation Scale score interpretation gives evaluators a broader understanding of scale scores. There are several levels of scale score interpretation ranging from viewing the victim tests as self reports to interpreting scale elevations and scale inter-relationships. If interested, click on each tests Scale Score Interpretation link: Victim Index, Self-Audit, Treatment Intervention Inventory (TII), TII-Juvenile, and Suicide Evaluation.

Advantages of Screening Screening via assessment instruments or tests filter out individuals with problems that may require referral for intervention, more comprehensive evaluation, counseling or treatment. The filtering system works as follows:

Note: This discussion is presented in each victim tests webpage. Consequently it will be available by link to each tests webpage.

Reference to the above table shows that a problem is not identified until a scale score is at (or above) the 70th percentile or higher. These risk range percentiles are based upon the victims that have completed the Victim Index and are represented in its standardization. This procedure is fair, objective and avoids extremes, i.e., over-identification or under-identification of problems. Without a screening program there is usually more risk of over or under utilization.