The Assessment of Interpersonal Problem Solving Skills (AIPSS) is a role play test of the examinee's cognitive and behavioral skills to solve interpersonal problems. These are situations between two people in which one person hinders the other from obtaining a desired goal. The second person must determine the nature of the problem, decide on some appropriate solution, and then perform the solution the solution in a socially appropriate and effective manner.

An example of such a situation: You arrive for a job interview and you tell the receptionist that you're scheduled to see Mr. Smith However, the receptionist tells you that Mr. Smith has left for the day. The problem, of course, is that you want the interview, but the receptionist has thrown an obstacle in the way: the interviewer is not available. You consider several solutions: leave the office and call later; ask if there is someone else who could interview you, leave a message for Mr. Smith to call you, get angry with the receptionist and let her know what an inconsiderate employer Mr. Smith is. All of these solutions lead to some positive or negative consequences, and you must decide which is best, and then enact your chosen solution. Most of these alternatives require that you say something to the receptionist, and the outcome of this interaction will be influenced both by what you say and how you say it. That is,. both the content of the solution and the performance of it are important factors in determining how likely you are to achieve your desired goal.

This analysis implies a problem-solving model of social skills.

First, you must recognize that there is a problem. This is the skill of "problem identification". You also must understand the nature of the problem; what is the goal and what is the obstacle? The ability to do so is "problem description". Together, these are "receiving skills." Second, you must consider various alternatives, identify and weigh their consequences, and then choose which alternative you think is best. These skills are called "Processing skills". Finally, you must enact the chosen solution by including the chosen content and implementing it with the appropriate eye contact, voice volume, body posture. gestures. facial affect, speech timing, etc. These Content and Performance skills constitute "Sending skills".

AIPSS uses videotaped presentations of 13 interpersonal interactions plus a demonstration scene, each showing two characters engaged in a social interaction. 3 scenes present no problem, and 10 present a problem in which the primary character is faced with an obstacle presented by the other person. The examiner pauses the videotape after each scene and asks the examinee a series of questions to assess receiving skills (problem identification and problem description) and processing skills. Sending skills require the examiner to engage the examinee in a role play of the examinee's response to the situation. Specific criteria are used for scoring all of the examinee's responses.

To Order

Assessment Tool	Cat. No.	Price	Order
Assessment of Interpersonal Problem-Solving Skills (AIPSS)	AT06	$175.00