Warshak Parent Questionnaire

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • How do I set up a person to complete the WPQ?

  • After you log into your account and purchase administrations, a button labeled "Set up an online questionnaire" will appear. This takes you to a short form that includes the respondent's email address. Completing the form generates an email to the respondent giving full instructions.

  • How long has this instrument been in use?

  • The booklet edition of the WPQ has been in use since 1988. It is now in its second edition and has been used to evaluate thousands of families.

  • How did the WPQ come into existence?

  • Dr. Warshak developed the questionnaire shortly after going into private practice. It was his intention to improve upon the forms that were being used in the child guidance clinic where he worked. Dr. Warshak applied the knowledge he gained from designing numerous questionnaires for two separate projects funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. These included questionnaires used in his divorce, custody, and stepfamily studies. For the most part this has been a labor of love. Despite rising printing and postage costs, the cost of the booklet edition has remained the same since the booklet was first issue 18 years ago.

  • Is there any systematic research on the WPQ?

  • As a clinical form, there is no systematic research on the WPQ. It was not designed to generate scores in comparison with normative groups. Rather, it is a form to elicit information that normally might require several different forms and interview time to obtain. We do not rule out the possibility, though, of conducting future research.

    The WPQ addresses all issues that are addressed in other standard checklists, such as the Child Behavior Checklist. But the WPQ does not quantify a behavior problem score because such statistics invariably oversimplify and sometimes distort a representation of the child's psychological status. For instance, most clinicians would regard a child's propensity to set fires as a manifestation of a severe disorder that warrants immediate attention. But if the child did not manifest many other behavior problems, the CBC score may indicate that this child has a better behavioral status than children who have multiple but mild problems in areas that are far less life threatening.

  • Does the WPQ take into account the various family structures in which children live?

  • Yes. This was one of the main purposes in designing the instrument. For instance, in a divorced family, the WPQ asks for information about all households in which the child spends time, and specific information about legal custody arrangements and actual living arrangements when these vary from the legal decree.

  • Does the WPQ lock respondents into forced choice responses?

  • Although some items are in a checklist format, unlike other parent questionnaires the WPQ provides a structure for the respondent to provide any additional information or explanation desired. This additional information is incorporated into the final report.

  • Is the WPQ a psychological test?

  • No. It is a form used to obtain demographic and intake information. As with any client-completed form, the professional must use judgment in reviewing and analyzing the responses.

  • Is a manual available for the WPQ?

  • Yes. Registered users may download a copy of the manual at no cost. This is a menu option when you log in to your account.

  • How long does it take for a respondent to complete the WPQ online?

  • We estimate that it takes from 45-75 minutes depending on the amount of information to be provided by the respondent.

  • Must respondents complete the WPQ in one sitting?

  • No. Respondents can take as long as they want and can complete the WPQ in as many online sessions as they need. When they return to the instrument, they can take up where they left off, and can also return to previous items to make any necessary changes.

  • What is the cost of the WPQ?

  • The basic cost of administration, report generation, and report delivery for a single WPQ is $23.75. However, to familiarize our customers with the WPQ online edition, during our introductory phase, we are offering a bonus of 1 additional report for every 4 reports ordered. This amounts to $19.00, or a 20% discount, per administration. If you purchase 20 reports within the first year, this will qualify you as a charter customer and lock in the discount and the current price for one additional year, regardless of any price increases. The cost is modest compared to existing psychological reports: most evaluators include this, plus a charge for reviewing and analyzing the report, in their charges to their client.

  • How do I purchase report administrations?

  • After you set up your account, you will be invited to purchase WPQ administrations online. Payment transactions are conducted through PayPal, the world's largest secure online payment service. You may use a credit card or arrange for direct deduction from your bank account.

  • Will insurance reimburse for administration and review of the WPQ?

  • If services to your client are covered by insurance, administration and review and analysis of the WPQ may be covered as are other clinical intake forms. If the WPQ is used in a forensic evaluation, some clinicians charge a fee to cover the cost of the report plus professional time to review and analyze the report.

  • If a client does not complete the questionnaire for any reason, and a prepaid report is not generated, is this deducted from the balance of my prepaid reports?

  • No. You will receive a credit for this. Although you pay for the reports in advance, if for any reason a client does not follow through and complete the WPQ, and you do not request a report based on the partially completed questionnaire, simply email us and your account will be adjusted accordingly.

  • Can I track the respondent's activity on the questionnaire before it is completed and a report generated?

  • Yes. Log in to your account, and click on the button labeled "View Status of Assigned Questionnaires." You will then see a display of activity, including a list of the questionnaires in progress and the date of most recent activity on each questionnaire.

  • Can I obtain a copy of the raw data in addition to the report?

  • Yes. Simply log into your account and click on the button labeled "Email Raw Data from an Existing Report." A printout of the raw data (listing the questions and answers) will be emailed to you instantly. There is no additional charge for the raw data listing.

  • I want to continue using the booklet edition of the WPQ. Will this product still be available?

  • Yes. You can continue to reorder the WPQ parent response booklets at www.warshak.com.

  • Can I order reports to be generated from the booklet edition of the WPQ?

  • We do not have the capability of generating a report from the booklet edition of the WPQ at this time. However, depending on demand, we may have this feature available in the future.

  • What is the policy regarding refunds if I don't like the WPQ online edition?

  • We will gladly issue a refund for any unused prepaid reports, as long as the refund is requested within 6 weeks of the purchase. In selected cases, we may be able to arrange to offer refunds beyond this period.

  • Is the information obtained by the WPQ secure?

  • We have taken a variety of measures to make the information secure. For example, all information passed over the Internet is encrypted at the 128-bit level, and all data is password protected. You must do your part by making sure that no unauthorized persons have access to the email account where you will receive confidential reports.

  • How do I find out my password if I have forgotten it?

  • There is a link on the login page for this purpose. If you want to change your password, contact technical support.

  • Who may I contact for technical support?

  • Dr. Bill Whitehead, chief developer of the WPQ Online Edition, is available by phone (972-818-3993) or email (wcw@psychselect.com) to answer any questions about the computer system that administers and scores the WPQ.