Introduction to Psychological Testing



Introduction to psychological Testing

COUN 561

Fall 2008

Instructor: Shamshad Ahmed, Ph.D.

E-mail: sahmed@es.marywood.edu

Office Phone: 570-348-6211 ext. 2319

Office Hours: McGowan Center, Room 1020

Monday, 12:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Wednesday, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Thursday, 1-3 PM

Appointments may be scheduled for other days/times as needed.

Required Materials:

• Drummond, R.J.& Jones.K.D.(2006). Assessment Procedures for Counselors and helping Professionals (6th .Ed). Pearson Merrill, Prentice Hall New Jersey

• Various Journal and Book Chapters listed below

• Handouts Distributed in Class

Recommended Reading: Hogan,T.P. (2003). Psychological Testing. A Practical

Introduction. John Wiley & Sons,Inc.

Course Rationale & Description:

This is a graduate level introduction to psychological testing. We will cover underlying psychometric issues having to do with tests and measurement. These issues include basic issues of measurement design and instrumentation, scale construction, reliability, validity, and normative analysis. We will introduce psychological tests that are commonly used in clinical and counseling psychology, education, forensic, and industrial settings. Ethical and multicultural issues in testing will be a focus throughout the course.

The teaching methods employed in class will include readings, lectures, class discussions, audiovisual aides, case reviews, and test administration.

Course Objectives:

After successful completion of this course the student will be able to

• History of psychological testing

• Understand the relationship between conceptualization and measurement instrumentation in testing.

• Evaluate test materials in terms of psychometric issues of reliability validity, structure, and normative information.

• Use various vocational tests

• Be aware of factors that limit the accuracy and validity of psychological tests.

• Critically evaluate test in terms of their sensitivity to multicultural issues.

• Appreciate the basic types of tests that are commonly utilized in clinical, counseling, educational, forensic, and industrial settings. Be prepared to learn how to evaluate and use specific tests in advanced testing courses.

• Be able to critically evaluate psychological assessment strategies and products.

• Strategies for selecting, administering and interpreting tests

• Understand the general principles of case conceptualization

• Legal and Ethical considerations in testing

• Ethical issues in mental health counseling

• Identity of mental health counselor

Course Requirements and Evaluation:

There will be five basic requirements which will determine student evaluation: (1) Class attendance and participation; (2) performance on Quizzes’ (3) psychological testing report; and (4) student presentations. Each of these requirements is explained in more detail below.

Class attendance and Participation- 15%

Coming to class is very important. To reflect this, 5 % of your grade will be determined by attendance. If you must miss a class because of an illness or an emergency, please contact the instructor. Participation in class is important to active learning, your presence to contribute thoughtful questions and comments help you and others to learn, this will determine 10% of your grade.

Very good participation-8-10%

Good participation - 5-7

Average participation 3-4 %

Poor participation below 3%

Quizes-25

There will a quiz on the 3rd , 5th, 7th 9th and 11th week of class. Each quiz will be worth be worth 5 POINTS EACH (25%). Each quiz will involve a mix of objective and short answer format. Make up quiz will be allowed only in the case of serious illness or emergencies. Its the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor prior to the quiz about any such crisis situation and to provide documentation to justify a make-up quiz.

Psychological Testing Report -40%

The Psychological Testing Report will comprise a total of 40 % of your grade. During the semester students will utilize psychological tests. All tests materials are available in curriculum lab/Instructor. Students may make a Xerox of the test they will be using and return the test immediately. Students are NOT ALLOWED to take the ORIGINAL TEST home.

Individual Test – Students may select an appropriate test (career/decision making/ personality etc and conduct it on themselves or their peers. Results should be collected analyzed and discussed.

Group Test – Students can select an appropriate test of their choice and conduct it on a group(males/females/gay/lesbians/ethic group/elderly etc). Once the test is conducted data

Report Writing- The paper needs to be written in APA format. Outline is as follows:

a) Introduction to Psychological Testing

b) Individual Test -20% (1) history of the test (2) Psychometrics about the test (3) Test results( 4) discussion (5) Summary

c) Group Test-20% - same as above

DUE: WEEK 8

Student Presentations- 20%

Students will select a topic from the given chapters. .

You are to both prepare and present a paper on any one of the topics given below. You should prepare handouts for classmates (it is acceptable to email a Word or PDF file to classmates, but I require a hard copy).

Outline for paper: (a) introduction to the topic(b)brief history (c) literature review-studies conducted in this area). Applications/treatment procedures. Page limit is 10-15 pages. Presentations will be during weeks 11 & 12.

Good Preparation and presentation, – latest research (copies and handouts) 18-20%

Average preparation and presentation 12-17%

Poor presentation and poor research below 12%

Some possible topics (this is by no means a comprehensive list):

Testing autistic Children

Birth order and Intelligence

Emotional intelligence

Social intelligence

Type A Personality

Nature vs Nurture in Personality

Tests for aphasia

Test Bias

Tentative Schedule Only

Instructor has the right to modify/change the schedule

List of Articles/References to be distributed in class

Class- 1: Aug 28th-Chapter 1,2 &3 History and philosophical Foundations of Assessment

Statistical Concepts & Understanding test Scores

Class- 2: Sept- 4thChapter 4 5& 6,7 Validity, Reliability, Process& procedures, legal and

ethical

Class- 3: Sept- 11th Chapters8 Ability and intelligence testing

Class- 4: Sept 18th-Chapter 9 & 11 Aptitude Testing AND Career and Employment Testing

Class- 5: Sept 25th -Chapters 10 Assessment of Achievement

Class 6: Oct 2nd Chapter 12 Personality Testing

Class- 7: Oct 9th Chapter 13 Clinical Assessment

Class- 8: Oct 23rd-Chapter 14 &15 Assessment of Development & Environment Assessment

Class- 9: Oct 30th- Chapter 16 &18 Computer in Assessment & Assessment in

Education/Student Presentations

Class- 10: Nov 6th-- Chapter 17 Working with Diverse Populations

Class- 11 Nov 13th Presentations

Week 12: Nov 20th Presentations

Read the above chapters from the prescribed text (Drummond & Jones)

Final Grades are based on the following of total points

95-100% : A

90-94%: A-

85-89%: B+

80-84%: B

75-79%: B-

70-74%: C+

65-69%: C

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