HPS979 - Psychological Assessment
Unit details
| Year: | 2022 unit information |
|---|---|
| Important Update: | Unit delivery will be in line with the most current COVIDSafe health guidelines. We continue to tailor learning experiences for each unit to achieve the best possible mix of online and on-campus activities that successfully blend our approaches to learning, working and research. Please check your unit sites for announcements and updates. Last updated: 4 March 2022 |
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Linda Byrne |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | HPS779 |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
| Scheduled learning activities - campus: | 1 x 1.5 hour class and 1 x 1.5 hour seminar per week |
Content
This is a practical unit aiming to familiarise students with a range of psychological assessment methods commonly administered in a clinical setting. While the main focus will be on testing, other major methods of clinical assessment will be covered, namely behavioural observation, interviewing and case studies. Various categories of tests will be discussed, evaluated and administered, including cognitive and intelligence tests, ability tests, personality tests, and tests of mood states, as well as issues surrounding cross-cultural assessment. The role of such tests in diagnostic work will be emphasised as well as their research value and prognostic and therapeutic use. Particular skills required will be practised through 'hands-on' experience.
| ULO | These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | |
| ULO1 | Assessment Knowledge: Evaluate client performance using evidence-based psychometric assessment measures, in light of test reliability and validity. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Competent Assessment Skills: Competently administer common psychological assessments (e.g., WAIS-IV). | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Cross-cultural issues: Understand intricacies associated with interpreting and administering tests with cross-cultural populations. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4 | Case Formulation: Integrate results from multiple assessment techniques to derive a case formulation. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO5 | Test Selection: Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate test usage and selection across the lifespan and with culturally and socially diverse populations. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO6 | Communication of Assessment Results: Compose clear and articulate case reports, suited to the understanding of the intended reader (e.g. referring clinician, case worker, and provide doctor, etc.). Provide clear and appropriate feedback to clients regarding assessment results. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
On completion of the unit students should be able to:
- formulate hypotheses regarding a client’s functioning;
- select and administer appropriate psychological tests to assess their hypotheses;
- write clear, concise and well structured psychological reports that address the relevant referral question;
- integrate clinical observations and formal test results; and
- Understand and respond to issues around cross-cultural assessment; and
- formulate diagnoses and be adept at communicating opinions to relevant parties
Assessment
Trimester 1:| Assessment description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: WAIS IV scoring exercise | Ungraded Pass/Fail |
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| Assessment 2: WAIS IV administration and interpretive report | 2000 words | Ungraded Pass/Fail |
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| Assessment 3: WAIS-IV/PAI integrative report | 2000 words | Ungraded Pass/Fail |
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This unit is Pass Grade only. All assessments must be passed in order for the unit to be passed.
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning Resource
The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: HPS979 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
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