Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) Practice

What type of responses does the MAST require?

1. Open-ended responses

2. Multiple-choice responses

3. Yes/No answers

4. Rating scale responses

The correct answer is: Yes/No answers

The MAST (Michigan Alcohol Screening Test) is designed to assess alcohol involvement and related issues by soliciting direct and straightforward feedback from the individual being screened. The structure of the MAST primarily requires respondents to answer questions with simple affirmative or negative responses. This format aligns well with the test's purpose of quickly identifying signs of alcohol misuse without the need for lengthy explanations or elaborations. Using yes/no answers allows for a clear and efficient evaluation, enabling the counselor or clinician to determine the level of concern regarding the individual’s alcohol use as rapidly as possible. This dichotomous style of questioning facilitates quick scoring and interpretation, making it an effective tool for screening in clinical settings. In contrast, open-ended responses would not provide the concise data typically needed for screening alcohol use, while multiple-choice responses could complicate the interpretation without providing the same clarity as simple yes/no answers. Rating scale responses might offer granularity, but they would be less suitable for the quick assessment that the MAST aims to deliver.