If a counselor wants to determine whether a client's characteristics align with the normative sample, which resource should they consult?

• A. Casual observation log
• B. Technical information manual
• C. Career guidance handbook
• D. Client self-report form

Answer: (B)

Understanding how a client’s results relate to a larger population hinges on having the standardized norms that accompany the assessment. Those norms, including how the client’s raw score converts to percentile ranks or standard scores, are published in the test’s manual—the technical information manual. This document explains the normative sample (ages, demographics, etc.), standardization procedures, and interpretation guidelines, so you can see where the client stands relative to the norm group.

Casual observation logs aren’t based on standardized benchmarks, so they don’t tell you how a client compares to the normative sample. A career guidance handbook isn’t designed to provide normative comparisons for psychological or aptitude measures. A client self-report form yields the client’s own perceptions but again lacks the necessary normative context.

So, the technical information manual is the resource that provides the normative data and guidance needed to determine alignment with the normative sample.