[Criterion-oriented measurement in clinical psychology: development of a test on stress management]

Criterion-oriented tests evaluate the performance of the individual in relation to a given criterion which describes abilities and skills (intended competencies). The measuring process decides statistically if the person is "mastering" the criterion or not. The intended competencies should be represented by test items of high content-validity. The structure and application of this method especially to diagnostical issues of clinical psychology and therapeutic control are discussed. Steps are described construing a criterion-oriented test of stress and coping processes related to depressive and fearful behavior. The test is based on a situation-action-model in the theoretical framework of "stress and coping", "self-efficacy", "control" and "learned helplessness". Method and construction of items are shown in order to find some dimensions of coping-behavior-in-situations (appraisals, person-directed and environment-directed actions) and its sequential organisation in stressful episodes.