Creation of a measure to assess knowledge of the individual placement and support model.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes the development and psychometric evaluation of the IPS-Q, a quiz assessing practitioner knowledge of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.


METHODS
Using multiple resources, including the IPS Fidelity Scale and publications about the IPS model, a 30-item multiple-choice quiz covering fundamental IPS principles and key components was developed. Ratings by eight IPS experts supported its content validity. To examine the IPS-Q's psychometric properties, 107 practitioners from high-fidelity IPS programs and 59 practitioners from non-IPS vocational programs were administered the IPS-Q via a web-based survey tool.


RESULTS
The measure displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .89) and a difficulty level consistent with that of typical job knowledge tests. The IPS-Q did not correlate with demographic variables that were considered extraneous to knowledge of IPS and did correlate with self-reported supported employment familiarity. However, contrary to our hypothesis, the quiz was not significantly correlated with exposure to supported employment. The IPS-Q significantly discriminated between practitioners working in high-fidelity IPS programs and non-IPS vocational programs. Furthermore, supervisors from high-fidelity IPS programs scored significantly higher on the measure than vocational workers from high-fidelity IPS programs.


CONCLUSIONS
The IPS-Q is a valid measure of IPS knowledge and might prove useful for assessment, research, and training purposes. Practitioners sometimes assume that they understand a program model when in fact they have misconceptions. The IPS-Q provides an objective way to gauge practitioner knowledge.
Dreher
Kimberly C
KC
Department of Psychology, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, USA. kcdreher@umail.iu.edu
Bond
Gary R
GR
Becker
Deborah R
DR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D016832:Employment, Supported; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011361:Professional Competence; D011594:Psychometrics; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult