PSYCHOL 7332 - Psychological Assessment

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

This course aims to introduce students to the principles and practice of psychological assessment. The course will focus on a small number of widely used norm-referenced tests of intellectual ability, work aptitudes, personality, vocational interests, attitudes and values, and how these tests are used individually and in combination as part of psychological assessment in organisations. Consideration will also be given to interviewing as an assessment tool and to tests of the environment and organisational culture. Students will become familiar with the strengths, limitations, interpretation and presentation of findings from a variety of assessment instruments and will learn skills in both assessment planning and report writing. Students will learn about the ethical and social implications of assessment in a variety of contexts including socially and linguistically diverse populations. Opportunities for practice administration of assessment tools will be provided.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 7332
    Course Psychological Assessment
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites PSYCHOL 7330 and PSYCHOL 7331
    Assumed Knowledge Introductory knowledge of the purpose for assessment and the basic principles and practices of psychometric testing.
    Restrictions Available to M Psych (O&HF) and PhD/MPsych(O&HF) students only or by permission of Head of School
    Assessment Assignments based on practical exercises and self-directed learning exercises
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Daniel Sturman

    Phone: 8313 3850
    Email: daniel.sturman@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Room 725, Level 7 Hughes Building

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    At the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
    1.    Apply knowledge and skills in the practice of culturally responsive psychological assessment, including with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, for a variety of assessment tasks in organisational settings.
    2.    Demonstrate competence in the selection, administration, and scoring of assessment measures
    3.    Demonstrate competence in drawing inferences from the results within a hypothesis generating and hypothesis testing framework
    4.    Demonstrate competence in writing a report of a professional standard.


    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1,2,3,4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1,2,3,4

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    1,2,3,4

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1,2,3,4

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    1

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    1,2,3,4

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1,2,3,4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Lecturers will provide reading material which will be made available on MyUni, prior to or at each session.

    Link to MyUni: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/
    Recommended Resources
    Lecturers will provide reading material which will be made available on MyUni, prior to or at each session.
    Link to MyUni: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/

    The Library is a major resource centre for students. The Research Librarian for Psychology, Vicki Langton, provides some useful information through the Internet at http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/psychology. The website contains a list of databases, links to tutorials and help with searching methods.


    Online Learning
    This course may use MyUni for one or more of the following:
    - Communication with students via Announcements and Discussion Board
    - Submission of assessment
    - Access to resources such as forms, templates and additional readings
    - Self-directed learning activities    

    Link to MyUni: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lecturers will support group discussion related to the lecture content. This will include organisational case scenarios to guide the development of psychological assessment practice. Time will also be spent familiarising students with tests, as well as practice and supervision in administration, scoring and interpreting psychological tests.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Seminars: 3 hrs each week for 12 weeks = 36 hours

    Assessment 1: 20 hours
    Assessment 2: 20 hours

    Learning Activities Summary
    The following is a provisional program. The final program will be advised at semester commencement.
    Week Topic
    Week 1 Assessment planning and test selection
    Week 2 Introduction to the Wechsler Scales
    Week 3 Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV
    Week 4 Introduction and Test Administration
    Week 5 Report Writing and Delivery of Feedback
    Week 6 Culturally responsive assessment, including with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
    Week 7 Personality Tests (1) 
    Week 8 Personality Tests (2) 
    Week 9 Cognitive Ability Tests
    Week 10 Motivation and Career Interests Tests
    Week 11 Emotional Intelligence Tests
    Week 12 Assessment Centres and Interviews
    Specific Course Requirements
    On enrolment all students MUST apply for and obtain provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.  All students are required to provide a copy of their registration details to the Program Administrator on their first day in the Program: this will be required for the Summer School courses Professional Practice and Evidence-Based Practice.The application form and details of fees payable are available from the PBA website: http://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Forms.aspx.

    Candidates are required to consent to a police check as part of their application to the Psychology Board of Australia for Provisional Registration, a requirement of enrolment in the program. A satisfactory current police check is a mandatory.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning outcome(s) being addressed
    Administration, scoring, interpretation, and reporting (written report) on a cognitive ability test and personality test for a corporate client. Summative NGP 1-4
    Evaluation of a commercially available psychological test (group presentation and handout) Summative NGP 1-3
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Attendance at all seminars is mandatory to ensure students attain and can demonstrate the relevant required competencies. Should students fail to meet mandatory attendance requirements by being absent this may lead to a fail grade for the course. Exemptions to mandatory attendance requirements may be granted for up to 2 seminars by the Course Coordinator if there are exceptional medical, compassionate, or extenuating circumstances as defined by the Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy. Students will be required to complete redemption exercises to the satisfaction of the Course Coordinator for any seminars missed.
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment 1: For this assessment, students will be required to to administer and score a typical cognitive ability test, to interpret psychometric test results from a cognitive and a personality test, and present their findings in an appropriate format for a corporate client.

    Assessment 2: For this assessment, students will be put into small groups and assigned a commercially available psychological test instrument. They will then be asked to give an oral presentation to the class (including a handout) that describes and critically evaluates the psychological test. 

    Further details of both assessments will be provided in class.




    Submission
    Assignments are to be submitted electronicallly to the Course Coordinator, along with a signed cover sheet (available on MyUni).

    The School of Psychology undertakes to adhere to the University’s Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy, Procedure 6a, which requires that assessments are returned within 4 weeks of the deadlines for submission.

    Extension of time for an assignment may be granted at the discretion of the Course Coordinator, to whom students should apply in writing (or email) before the due date and time. No requests for extensions will be considered if made after the due date and time.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    GS8 (Coursework Grade Scheme)
    Grade Description
    CN Continuing
    FNS Fail No Submission
    NFE No Formal Examination
    F Fail
    NGP Non Graded Pass
    P Pass
    C Credit
    D Distinction
    HD High Distinction
    RP Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.