James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

PY5001:03

Psychological Assessment in Professional Practice

Townsville HECS Band 1

39 hours seminars. Semester 1. Limited Attendance.

Available to MPsych or DPsych students or with permission of the course coordinator.

Staff: Miss M Hennessy.

This subject will provide training and experience in the practical details of test administration, interpretation and report writing. The main areas of psychological assessment with adults will be addressed. Forms of assessment covered will include behavioural assessment, cognitive, personality, and neuropsychological evaluation. Child and adolescent assessment will also be introduced. The variety of tools available for psychological assessment will be critically reviewed. Understanding of the basic principles of psychometric assessment will be assumed.

Learning Objectives:

  1. the acquisition of skills in test administration, scoring and the interpretation of test results;
  2. the development of skill in test evaluation and selection;
  3. ability to integrate test results into a useful, problem oriented, report;
  4. knowledge of relevant issues in the use of assessment tools, including psychometric properties, use with minority groups, ethical concerns and the limitations and strengths of psychometric versus clinical evaluations.

Assessment by weekly exercises (30%); practical skills (40%); report writing (30%).