Course Outline. Code: PSY701 Title: Advanced Psychological Assessment and Reporting

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1 Page 1 Course Outline Code: PSY701 Title: Advanced Psychological Assessment and Reporting Faculty of Arts, Business and Law School of Social Sciences Teaching Session: Semester 1 Year: 2018 Course Coordinator: Marnie Cumner 1. What is this course about? 1.1 Course description This subject extends your previous studies in psychological assessment, including psychometric theory and research, with a focus on appropriate selection, administration and interpretation of major psychological tests in clinical use. You are introduced to different forms of psychological reports. Completion of this course will allow you to develop skills in integrating clinical findings to develop informative clinical reports and recommendations, including a focus on developing assessment skills to guide recommendations and treatment planning. Relevant ethical and legal issues are addressed. 1.2 Course content Theoretical bases for psychological assessment techniques, with a focus on psychometric assessment Psychometric properties of psychological tests and implications for test selection, interpretation and problem formulation Theory and research relating to a wide range of psychologically valid and reliable assessments Formulation based test selection Administration and interpretation of the major psychological tests used in clinical practice Use of assessment tools to enhance problem formulation and treatment planning Ethical and legal considerations related to assessment and report writing for diverse populations Systematic behavioural observation techniques Writing informed, succinct, valid and well organised reports in a range of contexts 2. Unit value 12 units 3. How does this course contribute to my learning?

2 Page 2 Specific Learning Outcomes Assessment Tasks Qualities On successful completion of this course you should be able to: Show knowledge and understanding of current research and theory in the field of clinical assessment and psychometrics. Show knowledge of the information required to select relevant assessment procedures and psychological tests. Show knowledge of and competence in the administration, scoring and interpretation of the major psychological tests commonly used in psychological practice. Show knowledge of and competence in the procedures involved in writing effective psychological assessment reports. Show awareness of the limitations and common misconceptions in psychological testing. Show awareness and use of ethical issues using the APS Code of Ethics and its accompanying Guidelines to resolve ethical questions. You will be assessed on the learning outcome in task/s: 1, 2 and 3 Knowledgeable. Ethical. 1 and 2 Knowledgeable. Ethical. 2 and 3 Knowledgeable. Empowered. 2 and 3 Empowered. Ethical. 1, 2 and 3 Ethical. Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming: 4. Am I eligible to enrol in this course? Refer to the Coursework Programs and Awards - Academic Policy for definitions of pre-requisites, corequisites and anti-requisites 4.1 Enrolment restrictions Must be enrolled in AR703, AR Pre-requisites Nil 4.3 Co-requisites Nil 4.4 Anti-requisites Nil 4.5 Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills

3 Page 3 N/A 5. How am I going to be assessed? 5.1 Grading scale Limited Pass (PU), Fail (UF) 5.2 Assessment tasks Task Assessment Tasks No. 1 Video of WISC-V OR WAIS-IV administration, and reflection 2 Psychometric instrument evaluation 3 Cognitive assessment report Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Individual Pass/Fail 1 hour 10am, Friday, Week 5 Individual Pass/Fail 10 minutes Throughout semester Individual Pass/Fail 3000 words 10am, Friday, Week 13 Where should I submit it? Direct to course coordinator Class presentation Direct to course coordinator Assessment Task 1: Intelligence test administration (WISC edition to be confirmed, OR WAIS-IV), and reflection Goal: The goal of this assessment is to assess your ability to competently administer EITHER the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children 5 th edition OR the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 4 th edition, and to reflect on your work Product: Format: Digital recording of role play and written self-reflection Digitally recoded administration of either the WISC-V or WAIS-IV (including supplementary subtests) conducted as a role play with a client (another student who acts as the child), and a 1 page (maximum) single lined, typed page of self-reflection on the strengths and areas for improvement for each subtest based on your video. Criteria Correct administration of either the WISC-V or WAIS-IV (including supplementary subtests) with no errors that alter the client s interpretation of the delivered instructions. This includes wording (e.g. test instructions), administration (e.g. demonstration of at least one subtest reversal and one query, correct pointing), and timing (e.g. rate of delivery on verbal tasks and correct timing for all test items that require this) Ability to establish and maintain basic rapport, including responding to client needs as necessary (including at least one use of appropriate encouragement) Correct scoring of each subtest to the level of raw scores only Able to identify strengths and areas for improvement in your administration of either the WISC -V or WAIS-IV Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Problem solving Information literacy Applying technologies Communication Assessment Task 2: Psychometric instrument evaluation

4 Page 4 Goal: This assessment is designed to develop skills in critically evaluating psychometric assessment instruments in order to inform appropriate selection of instruments in applied settings. Product: In class presentation with PowerPoint slides and a one page, single sided summary handout for students to use as a resource, and an electronic copy of your slides and handout to be sent to the Course Coordinator. Format: The critical test evaluation of the psychometric instrument will be presented in class (throughout semester) using PowerPoint slides. A brief, written summary of the content covered in your talk will be given to the class on the day of presentation Criteria Overall purpose of the test described, including target population and possible circumstances when it would be used Administration and scoring of the test described (where relevant) Statistical properties critically explored and described, including reference to reliability and validity Strengths of the test outlined Limitations of the test outlined Adherence to the time limit Ability to critically evaluate your selected test with reference to the evidence base, psychometric properties, and utility of the test Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Problem solving Applying technologies Information literacy Communication Organisation Assessment Task 3: Cognitive assessment report Goal: This assessment is to help you develop skills in scoring and interpreting commonly used psychometric assessments to inform the development of an effective report that includes appropriate recommendations. Product: A cognitive assessment report. Format: Using the raw data provided, score and interpret the relevant psychometric tests and prepare a report based on your findings. The report should be targeted to the referral source and include recommendations that are appropriate to referral question and tests used. Criteria Accurate scoring of psychometric tests, including correct calculation of age, subtest scores, index scores, discrepancy analysis, confidence intervals, and base rates Reason for referral outlined clearly Appropriate breadth and depth of background information Appropriate breadth and depth of presentation information Assessment results interpreted and reported accurately Concise and accurate summary of results Suitable recommendations based on the test results and literature, where relevant Concise and clearly expressed report writing style, including correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and all tables to be formatted correctly

5 Page 5 Adherence to word length Generic skill assessed Problem solving Communication Applying technologies Information literacy Organisation Skill assessment level 5.3 Additional assessment requirements This course is graded on a PASS/FAIL basis. A PASS/FAIL mark is given for each assessment task. All assessment tasks must be passed to pass this course. Plagiarism In order to minimise incidents of plagiarism and collusion, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Blackboard, are electronically checked through SafeAssign. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work that SafeAssign has access to. Limited Graded Course: This course will be graded as Pass in a Limited Grade Course (PU) or Fail in a Limited Grade Course (UF) as per clause and of the Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA) - Institutional Operating Policy of the University of the Sunshine Coast. In a course using Limited Grades, all assessment tasks relating to a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activity or a professional competency (PC) task are required to be passed for a student to successfully complete the course. Supplementary assessment is not available in courses using Limited Grades. The exception to this is Assessment Task 1, where you will be permitted to resubmit subtests that were not deemed competent in the initial submission. 5.4 Submission penalties You must contact your Course Coordinator if you require an extension or alternate assessment. 6. How is the course offered? 6.1 Directed study hours Workshop: 3 hours per week 6.2 Teaching semester/session(s) offered Semester 1 Thompson Institute

6 Page Course activities Module What key concepts/content will I learn? Module 1 Ethics of cognitive assessment Module 2 Statistical and psychometric constructs Module 3 Limitations to cognitive assessment Module 4 Behavioural observation techniques Module 5 Culturally fair assessments Module 6 Intelligence testing child and adult Module 7 Memory testing child and adult Module 8 Achievement testing Module 9 Executive functioning testing Module 10 Developmental disorders Module 11 Personality assessment Module 12 Adaptive functioning Module 13 Report writing Module 14 Conducting feedback sessions 7. What resources do I need to undertake this course? 7.1 Prescribed text(s) Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below: Author Year Title Publisher Australian Psychological Society 2007 Code of ethics. Melbourne, Australia: APS 7.2 Required and recommended readings Lists of required and recommended readings may be found for this course on its Blackboard site. These materials/readings will assist you in preparing for tutorials and assignments, and will provide further information regarding particular aspects of your course. Recommended Text to supplement the Prescribed texts: Hebben, N., & Milberg, W. (2009). Essentials of neuropsychological assessment (2nd Ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Lezak, M. D., Howieson, D. B., Bigler, E. D., & Tranel, D. (2012). Neuropsychological Assessment (5th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 7.3 Specific requirements You are expected to attend all lectures. For any lectures that are missed you will need to demonstrate to your course co-ordinator that you have covered the required material. This will usually take the form of a detailed summary and reflection of the Directed Study Activities for the missed lecture. 7.4 Risk management There is minimal health and safety risk in this course. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas.

7 Page 7 8. How can I obtain help with my studies? In the first instance you should contact your tutor, then the Course Coordinator. Additional assistance is provided to all students through Peer Advisors and Academic Skills Advisors. You can drop in or book an appointment. To book: Tel: or studentcentral@usc.edu.au 9. Links to relevant University policies and procedures For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including: Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs Review of Assessment and Final Grades Supplementary Assessment Administration of Central Examinations Deferred Examinations Student Academic Misconduct Students with a Disability General enquiries In person: Sippy Downs - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C USC SouthBank - Student Central, Building B, Ground floor (level 1) USC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie USC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Building A Tel: studentcentral@usc.edu.au