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PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT BPS308

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification
Statement of Attainment

Why Study Psychological Assessment?

Psychological testing and assessment is used extensively today – in education, recruitment, careers, forensic psychology, mental health and other areas of the helping professions and business.  This course will provide you with a detailed insight into psychological testing in a range of different areas.

Who Is This Course Suitable For?

The Psychological Assessment course is suitable for anyone interested in learning more about how psychological assessments work and how they are used. For example -

  • Teachers
  • Mental health workers
  • Support workers
  • Care workers
  • Doctors
  • Social Workers
  • Counsellors
  • Trainee Counsellors
  • Helpline workers
  • Disability Awareness workers
  • Educational Support staff

What Will You Learn In This Course?

Use the course to expand your knowledge and understanding of psychological tests and assessments and how they are used.

  • Learn more about the different types of tests, such as Wechsler Intelligence and Memory Scales, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory etc.
  • Study psychological tests, such as aptitude tests, occupational tests, assessment etc.
  • Understand why and when psychological tests are used. Learn about the advantages and pitfalls of psychological testing.

This is a great course for anyone interested in finding out more about the use of psychological tests in the work and health environment.

Please note -
This course provides you with detailed information on psychological tests. It is a good introductory course to finding out more, but it does not qualify you to undertake psychological assessments.

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COURSE AIM 

To explain why and how to use psychological assessment, and the different types of assessment available.

COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT

There are 7 lessons in this course, as follows:

Lesson 1.  Introduction

  • What is psychological assessment?
  • Types of psychological tests.
  • Achievement tests.
  • Aptitude tests.
  • Intelligence tests.
  • Occupational tests.
  • Personality tests.
  • History of psychological testing.
  • Justification for using tests.
  • Advantages and disadvantages of using psychometric testing.
  • Ethnicity and different cultures.
  • Psychological testing of language minority and culturally different children.
  • Why your child should be tested.
  • Why it is important for parents to know about testing.
  • Validity and reliability.
  • Construct, discriminant and convergent validity.
  • Test retest reliability.

Lesson 2.  Context of Clinical Assessment

  • Ethical practice.
  • Confidentiality.
  • Case study: confidentiality.
  • Informed consent.
  • Record keeping.
  • Dual relationships.
  • Professional boundaries.
  • Selecting tests.
  • Case study: ethics  and lie detection.
  • Computer assisted assessment.
  • Virtual reality; new tool for psychological assessment.
  • Personality traits and designing a questionnaire.
  • Weaknesses.
  • Ambiguity and bias.
  • Closed and open questions.

Lesson 3.  The Assessment Interview

  • The interview.
  • Screening for psychological disorders.
  • Structured and unstructured interviews.
  • SCID.
  • Assessing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among veterans.
  • Screening and referral procedure overview.
  • If patient refuses referral to mental health care.
  • Use of a primary care screen.
  • Discussing screening results with patients.
  • Discern if traumatic events are ongoing.
  • Making a recommendation.
  • Scheduling a follow up.
  • Psychometric properties of SCID.

Lesson 4.  Behavioural Assessment

  • Behaviourism.
  • Kinds of consequences.
  • Reinforcers.
  • Intrinsic and extrinsic reinforcers.
  • Consequences and timing.
  • The Premack principle.
  • Extinction.
  • Criticisms of behaviourism.
  • Methods of behavioural assessment.
  • The focus of assessment.
  • Functional analysis.
  • Analysis of problem behaviour.
  • Motivational analysis.
  • Behavioural vs traditional assessment.

Lesson 5.  Wechsler Intelligence Scales

  • Introduction.
  • Measuring intelligence.
  • Cognitive, cognitive contextual and biological theories.
  • Psychometric theories.
  • Wechsler Intelligence scales.
  • Normal results.
  • Sub tests, verbal subtests, performance subtests.
  • Cultural bias.
  • Precautions with intelligence testing.
  • The intelligence test as a tool.

Lesson 6.  Wechsler Memory scales

  • Memory.
  • Wechsler Memory test.
  • Wechsler Memory Scale III.

Lesson 7.  Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

  • Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Assessment
    Problems.
  • False negatives; false positives.

COURSE AIMS

  • Explain the main kinds of psychological tests and why they are used, and meaning of test reliability and validity.
  • Explain ethical and other factors that constrain clinical assessment.
  • Describe a structured and an unstructured interview.
  • Explain behavioural assessment and how it can be conducted.
  • Discuss Wechsler scales in detail.
  • Explain the purpose and use of the Wechsler Memory Test.
  • Explain the purpose and usage of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU MAY DO IN THIS COURSE

  • Consider why are reliability and validity important in Psychological Assessment (500 words)?
  • List and describe the different types of validity.
  • List and describe the different types of reliability.  
  • Discuss the advantage and disadvantages of using psychometric tests.
  • What are the following tests used for – a) Achievement tests? b) Aptitude tests? c) Intelligence tests? d) Occupational tests?
  • Consider - Have you ever taken a group or individual achievement or intelligence test? If so: 
    a) Describe your general impressions of the test and the testing situation. b) Describe your perceptions of the purposes of administering the tests. c) What outcomes occurred as a result of your participation? What impact (if any) did the test taking experience(s) have on your life? d) How you felt during testing. What factors might have enhanced or negatively affected your performance? What sources of error may have been operating? If you have not taken such a test, ask someone who has.
    What do you consider characteristics of a "good" test and a "bad" test?
    Give different examples of test formats (e.g., computerized tests). What has your own experience been with computerized tests? How do the advantages of computer-assisted psychological assessment from the standpoint of the test user, compare to your perceptions as the test taker?
    Using your friends’ comments on the test you designed in the set task, discuss how you could improve your questionnaire.

WHAT ARE THE APPLICATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS?

Psychological tests are used in many different fields - psychiatric services, personnel, training, workplaces, health services and many more.

  • A knowledge of psychological tests can be a useful addition to your CV in you work in these fields.
  • If you are interested in learning more about psychological testing, then why not enrol today!
  • This course provides you with detailed information on psychological tests. It is a good introductory course to finding out more, but it does not qualify you to undertake psychological assessments.

What Next?

You can enrol today by clicking the “Enrol Now” button above.

Or

Click here to Contact a Psychology Tutor.

Or Request a Prospectus Here.
Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!

Meet some of our academics

Jacinda Cole B.Sc.,M.Psych.Psychologist, Educator, Author, Psychotherapist. B.Sc., Psych.Cert., M. Psych. Cert.Garden Design, MACA. Jacinda has over 25 years of experience in psychology, in both Australia and England. She has co-authored several psychology text books and many courses including diploma and degree level courses in psychology and counselling. Jacinda joined ACS in 2001.
Jade SciasciaBiologist, Business Coordinator, Government Environmental Dept, Secondary School teacher (Biology); Recruitment Consultant, Senior Supervisor in Youth Welfare, Horse Riding Instructor (part-completed) and Boarding Kennel Manager. Jade has a B.Sc.Biol, Dip.Professional Education, Cert IV TESOL, Cert Food Hygiene.
Tracey Jones (writing)Tracey has enjoyed creative writing since she was a child. She has had several short stories published and a novella. She is also a keen writer of children's stories and poetry. She has also written many academic and non-fiction books in the fields of psychology, sociology, child development, writing and marketing.
Kate Gibson B.Soc.Sc.15+ years experience in HR, marketing, education & project management. Kate has traveled and worked in a variety of locations including London, New Zealand and Australia.


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