University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Report for Justin

This report presents an analysis of Justin's University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA), evaluating his readiness for change. The assessment, based on a Likert scale, examines his pre-contemplation, contemplation, action, and maintenance stages. Justin's scores indicate a contemplative stage with a readiness score of 10, suggesting he is open to making behavioral changes but uncertain about the support needed. The report explores the stages of change model, highlighting the importance of acknowledging negative habits and the role of support in facilitating and maintaining change. It discusses Justin's openness to change, his past unsuccessful attempts, and the need for tailored assistance to address his concerns and promote long-term behavioral modifications. The report concludes that Justin shows potential for improvement and recommends his admission into a care system, emphasizing the need for support and guidance.

Running head: Intake Assessments
Intake Assessments
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1Intake Assessments
University Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA) is a questionnaire that
that can describe how a person might feel when starting a therapy or addressing problems in
their lives. The responses to the questions are measured in a Likert scale of 1 to 5, and the
values can be used to develop a readiness score, that can be used before treatment or to
predict their outcomes (URICA – Readiness Score - HABITS Lab – UMBC, 2018). The
questionnaire is divided into 4 domains: pre contemplative items, contemplation items, action
items, and maintenance items. Each domain measures the perception or outcome of the client,
in relation to the questionnaire, and means of each domain value is used to calculate a
readiness for change value that measures the readiness of the client towards changes before
starting the treatment (University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale, 2018). The
readiness score is calculated using the means of pre contemplation, contemplation, and action
and maintenance scores using the formula below:
Readiness score= (Avg C+ Avg A+ Avg M)-Avg PC (URICA – Readiness Score - HABITS
Lab – UMBC, 2018).
The URICA assessment for Justin shows the following values:
Pre contemplation Mean: 1.875
The pre contemplation stage is identified by a lack of motivation to change, and
shows resistance towards feedback, discussion and also lacks openness towards new
information. The mean value of 1.875 shows limited pre contemplation of Justin, highlighting
that he is already past the stage of pre contemplation.
Contemplation Mean: 4.125

2Intake Assessments
Contemplative mean of 4.125 shows high level of agreement to contemplation for
change. His points out the openness of the client to make necessary amendments to his
behavior. However, individuals at this stage are still aware of the costs of the change, trying
to balance the benefits to the costs of change.
Action Mean: 4.125
Action mean shows the actions taken by the individual for changing their behavior.
The client has already taken measures before, and hence shows a mean value of 4.125. This
shows that the client is both open for new changes as well has attempted implementing
changes before. This is a positive attitude that highlights the constant effort given by Justin to
overcome his challenging behavior.
Maintenance Mean: 3.625
A lower maintenance mean shows an uncertainty towards the perception of how the
client can be assisted though the changes. This is a significant area to be worked in, to ensure
the client is primed to maintain the activities suggested to him.
Readiness for change score = (4.125+4.125+3.625)-1.875= 10
Teixeira et al. (2013), differentiated the readiness for change based on the scores, as
pre-contemplative stage (score less than 8), contemplative stage (score between 8 and 11),
ready for an attitude for action (score between 11 and 14). Based on the cut of score, Justin is
at a pre contemplative stage of improvement.
The stages of change model outlines 6 stages though which change can occur:
1. Pre contemplation
2. Contemplation

3Intake Assessments
3. Preparation/ determination
4. Action/willpower
5. Maintenance and Relapse.
(The Stages of Change 2018).
The contemplation stage is characterized by the awareness of the individuals towards
the effects of their bad habits, and marks a contemplative effort given by them about their
problems. Here they are able to consider the possibility of making changes in their behavior
or habits to manage the effects on their personal lives. Here individuals often measure the
pros and cons of endeavoring through the changes, however with some ambivalence. The
ambivalence exists due to their doubts on the perceived long term benefits of the behavioral
modifications, compared to the short term efforts and expenses. In the contemplative stage,
people also tend to be more open towards suggestions and feedbacks about their bad habits,
and utilize educational interventions, while showing an increased reflection about how they
feel and what they actually think about their bad habits. This is better than being in the pre
contemplative stage however is worse off than preparation stage. Studies by Mander et al.
(2018) points out that contemplative stage having a better behavioral modification outcome
compared to contemplative state, thereby pointing out a comparatively lesser effort needed to
help Justin.
This is a crucial step in the ability of individuals to acknowledge the negative effects
of their habits, on their well being, and therefore a step towards determination and action,
followed by maintenance of the action.
Mean scores of 4.125 for Contemplation and Action also shows the motivation of
Justin to contemplate and take measures to modify his behavior. I believe that with support,
Justin will be able to implement necessary actions to rectify his bad habit, and maintain the

4Intake Assessments
change in behavior on the long term. A maintenance score of 3.625 can be attributed to such
a conclusion.
Justin shows openness towards change, and feels he is already taking steps to improve
his habits. However, he also expresses concern of failure in his attempt, and this necessitates
support to be given to him. He is also facing challenges in changing his habits, which also
would need support. Justin is still optimistic about how, through assistance, he can get
assistance he needs to overcome his challenging habit.
This is a very positive attitude that can foster a sense of determination to change, and
consequent implementation of correct measures to maintain the change. Mander et al., (2018)
proposed that contemplation is associated with the intention to quit unhealthy behavior, as
well as the number of previous attempts to quit, support and encouragement received to quit
and also the socioeconomic status of the individual. Justin’s response highlights that he have
already attempted to quit before, however the attempts were not successful, which might have
attributed to his uncertainty about it. Openness is an important factor to ensure adaptability to
new changes (LePine, Colquitt and Erez 2000). This makes the individual more suggestive,
and has a positive frame of mind towards feedback. Justin is able to identify his problematic
behavior, which is vital towards maintaining his openness for change. However his pre-
dispositions are mostly due to his prior experiences in failure to change his behavior.
Justin is also able to identify the potential benefits of working on his problem, and
feels that if helped on it, can ensure success of the effort. He feels that the support can help
him to better understand himself, and increase his knowledge on how his behavior is
affecting him, as well has give him the knowledge to make the right choices. He is open for
advices and education, and therefore a promising outcome. It must however be considered

5Intake Assessments
that approach to assist him should take into account his sense of confusion, and empower him
to make independent decisions about his life.
Ingo et al. (2017) pointed out that stages of change model of human behavior can help
to recognize challenges to behavioral modifications. Mander et al. (2018) warned that
contemplators can also have an ambivalent outlook towards change, and can be
procrastinators. Such can be a serious issue, as it leads to non implementation of non
maintenance of the initiatives suggested or initially established. Such can also increase the
incidence of a relapse in the bad behavior, negating the previous progress. Procrastination can
also cause deferring of necessary activities, reducing the efficiency of the intervention
process.
Therefore with the understanding of the assessment of Justin, it can be understood that
he is already contemplating change in his behavior, and is seeking for assistance for the same.
He seems unsure how he can be helped by behavioral modification, as he feels that such
measures can have only temporary effects, but is still open for suggestions. Justin needs to be
explained thoroughly how the suggestions can be helpful, so that he can take his own
decisions while implementing them. It can therefore be suggested that Justin be admitted in
the care system, as he shows potential for improvement.

6Intake Assessments
References:
Ingo, E., Brännström, K. J., Andersson, G., Lunner, T., & Laplante-Lévesque, A. (2017).
Stages of change in audiology: comparison of three self-assessment
measures. International Journal of Audiology, 1-5.
LePine, J. A., Colquitt, J. A., & Erez, A. (2000). Adaptability to changing task contexts:
Effects of general cognitive ability, conscientiousness, and openness to
experience. Personnel psychology, 53(3), 563-593.
Mander, J., Vogel, E., Blanck, P., & Bents, H. (2018). Validation of the URICA-S in Group
Therapy: Associations of Stages of Change with Therapeutic Factors and Treatment
Outcome. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 68(1), 35-55.
READINESS SCORE FOR URICA. (2018). Guilford.com. Retrieved 12 January 2018, from
https://www.guilford.com/add/miller11/urica.pdf
Teixeira, L., Rodrigues, A., Silva, Á., Azevedo, R., Gama, A., & Behlau, M. (2013). Escala
URICA-VOZ para identificação de estágios de adesão ao tratamento de
voz. Codas, 25(1), 8-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s2317-17822013000100003
The Stages of Change. (2018). Cpe.vt.edu. Retrieved 12 January 2018, from
http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gttc/presentations/8eStagesofChange.pdf
University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA). (2018). Pubs.niaaa.nih.gov.
Retrieved 12 January 2018, from
https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/assessingalcohol/instrumentpdfs/75_urica.pdf
URICA – Readiness Score - HABITS Lab - UMBC. (2018). Habitslab.umbc.edu. Retrieved 12
January 2018, from https://habitslab.umbc.edu/urica-readiness-score/

7Intake Assessments
URICA – Readiness Score - HABITS Lab - UMBC. (2018). Habitslab.umbc.edu. Retrieved 12
January 2018, from https://habitslab.umbc.edu/urica-readiness-score/

8Intake Assessments
Appendix:
Table 1: Total Score:
Questio
n # Value
1 2
2 4
3 4
4 4
5 2
6 4
7 4
8 4
9 3
10 4
11 2
12 4
13 2
14 4
15 4
16 4
17 4
18 2
19 4
20 4
21 4
22 5
23 4
24 5
25 5
26 1
27 5
28 2
29 1
30 4
31 1
32 4
Table 2: Pre contemplation PC calculation:
Pre contemplation
PC

9Intake Assessments
Questio
n
Number Score
1 2
5 2
11 2
13 2
23 4
26 1
29 1
31 1
Total 15
Mean 1.875
Table 3: Contemplation C calculation:
Contemplation C
Questio
n
Number Score
2 4
4 4
8 4
12 4
15 4
19 4
21 4
24 5
Total 33
Mean 4.125
Table 4: Action A calculation:
Action A
Questio
n
Number Score
3 4
7 4
10 4
14 4

10Intake Assessments
17 4
20 4
25 5
30 4
Total 33
Mean 4.125
Table 5: Maintainance M calculation:
Maintenance M
Questio
n
Number Score
6 4
9 3
16 4
18 2
22 5
27 5
28 2
32 4
Total 29
Mean 3.625
Table 6: Readiness for change calculation:
Readines
s for
change: 10