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Psychology (PSYC) 469

Principles of Psychological Assessment (Revision 1)

PSYC 469

Revision 1 closed, replaced by current version.

Delivery Mode:Individualized study online.

Credits:3

Area of Study:Social Science

Prerequisite:minimum 2 junior level psychology or educational psychology courses.

Centre:Centre for Psychology

PSYC 469 is not available for Challenge.

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Overview

Psychology 469: Principles of Psychological Assessment is a three-credit course that provides and introduction to educational and psychometric theory and practice. Issues around test construction, administration, and interpretation are examined. This course provides an introduction to measurement techniques and a variety of testing tools and instruments used in education and psychology to assist with decision-making. Properties that these tools must have in order to offer good information, such as reliability and validity, are examined. Factors that influence results such as motivation, emotional health, and types of background information are discussed. Specific testing tools and devices for measuring aptitude, achievement, interest, and others are examined.

Special topics are discussed around testing accommodations for the assessment of persons with disabilities. Ethical considerations regarding other issues in assessment are examined. Finally, psychological assessment in practice offers a choice of two units out of a possible five that discuss assessment of individuals with disabilities, assessment of young children, clinical neuropsychology, health psychology and health care, and career counseling.

Note: This course focuses on B level testing.

Outline

Part 1: Technical Issue

Unit 1: Fundamental Issues in Measurement

Unit 2: Measurement and Numbers

Unit 3: Giving Meaning to Scores

Unit 4: Qualities Desired in Any Measurement Procedure:  Reliability

Unit 5: Qualities Desired in Any Measurement Procedure:  Validity

Unit 6: Practical Issues Related to Testing

 

Part 2: Testing and measurement Devices

Unit 7: Assessment and Educational Decisions

Unit 8: Ability and Aptitude Tests

Unit 9: Standardized Achievement Tests

Unit 10: Performance and Product Evaluation

Unit 11: Interests, Personality, and Adjustment

Unit 12: Attitudes and Rating Scales

 

Part 3: Special Topics in Testing

Unit 13: Testing Accomodations

Unit 14: Ethics and Issues in Assessment

Unit 15: Principles of Test Development

 

Part 4: Applications

Unit 16: Psychological Assessment in Practice

Students choose two units from the following:

Unit 16A: Assessment of Individuals with Disabilities

Unit 16B: Assessment of Young Children

Unit 16C: Clinical Neuropsychology

Unit 16D: Health Psychology and Health care

Unit 16E: Career Counselling

Evaluation

To receive credit for the course, you must complete all of these evaluation assignments. You must receive a grade of 50 percent or better on the final exam and a composite course grade of at least “D” (50 percent). The weighting of assignments is as follows:

Three Unit Quizzes
(10% each)
Test Review Case Study Project Total
30% 35% 35% 100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Thorndike, Robert M. (2005). Measurement and Evaluation in Psychology and Education (7th ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson / Merrill Prentice Hall

Other Materials

The course materials include an reading file. All other materials are available online.

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.

Opened in Revision 1, October 13, 2009.

Last updated by SAS  06/24/2015 08:57:08