DESCRIPTION

This course is an introduction to the basic theories, applications and issues in psychological testing.

• It will cover the areas of reliability, validity and norming common to all test construction.
• It will investigate the legal and ethical issues relevant to psychological testing.
• It will review the major instruments used in the measurement of : intelligence, personality, aptitude, and achievement.
• It will look at the uses of testing in special situations (e.g., clinical settings, industrial/organizational settings, neuropsychological units).

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the theory & procedures that underlie the construction, validation & interpretation of psychological tests.
• Demonstrate the administration, scoring, interpretation and reporting of selected tests.
• Demonstrate competence in the use of Library & Internet sources of information about psychological tests
• Describe some of the issues involved in the actual use of testing for decision-making

 

The means for achieving the goals of the course include the traditional methods of student readings, instructor input and classroom discussion. In addition, however, students will engage in a variety of laboratory activities, both inside and outside of class. These activities include statistical operations which are involved in the construction and validation of adequate tests, and critical explorations of specific widely used tests. The students will survey the critical literature and report on the tests which they have explored. The combination of the traditional methods and the students' laboratory work should enable them to personally appropriate the essential elements of this field and to be able to put this knowledge to use in further academic and professional work.

COURSE ACTIVITIES

• Completion of assigned readings in text
• Completion of 4 noncumulative in-class tests
• Completion of Web-based quizzes and assignments.
• Completion of assigned exercises in workbook (both in-class and as homework)
• Completion of reports based on taking, administering, scoring & inteerpreting selected tests
• Active participation in class webboard

 

Activities will carry the following weights in computing grades:

• 4 non-cumulative tests based on readings,& notes 25%
• Web-based quizzes and assignments 20%
• Workbook Exercise reports (class & home) 20%
• Testing reports 25%
• Participation in Class & on Webboard conference 10%

 

All grades will be based on the percent of total points obtained for each category multiplied by the weight of that category. The standard used is:

90% up = A;
80% - 89% = B;
66% - 79% = C;
55% - 65% = D;
54% and under = F

MATERIALS NEEDED

TEXTS

Cohen, R. J., Swerdlik, M. E. & Phillips, S. M. (1996). Psychological testing and assessment:An introduction to tests and measurement (3^rd Ed.). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company.

Cohen, R. J. (1996) 101 Exercises in psychological testing and measurement (3^rd Ed.). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company.

***BRING THIS WORKBOOK TO EVERY CLASS***

EXTRA CREDIT READING

Gould, S.J. 1996. The mismeasure of man. Revised edition. New York: Norton

SUPPLIES

1 Small pack CLEAN EDGE - wide ruled loose leaf paper
1 pad quarter-inch graph paper
1 calculator with square root key & 1 memory
 

CLASS POLICIES

GUIDELINES FOR ALL WRITTEN PAPERS

1. All papers must conform to the guidelines of the APA PUBLICATION MANUAL (4^TH Edition).
2. All papers must be produced on a wordprocessor. The paper must be double spaced with margins of 15 & 70.
3. Papers that are not done according to these guidelines or not on time will not be accepted and will receive a grade of zero (0).
4. Pages must be stapled together in the upper left hand corner. DO NOT USE PLASTIC COVERS OR ENCLOSURES OF ANY KIND

HOMEWORK:

Homework must be submitted on time for credit. No late homework will be accepted. Homework is to be turned in on the due date at the beginning of the period. There are enough ways to earn credit that you will not necessarily lose a possible grade if some unforseen reason causes you to miss a homework deadline.

In all instances, you must submit your own work under your own name. If you fail to submit 3 homework assignments on time without having previously discussed this with the instructor, your grade will be reduced one grade level from whatever you achieve by other means. You are encouraged to work together on homework assignments. However, the work you submit for credit must be clearly your own and, not just the work of others. You are particularly encouraged to have someone proof your work as spelling, grammar & style will count in all written work.

ATTENDANCE

Much of the work done in the course will be done in class. Much of it will also require pairs or small groups. Consequently, you owe it both to yourself and your classmates to attend class and to be on time.

MISSED CLASS ASSIGNMENTS, HOMEWORK & TESTS

There are NO make-ups or late acceptances for either classroom assignments or homework. There is sufficient room in the grading system for a person to miss 1 or 2 assignments OR homework assignments and still achieve an A level grade.

With respect to the 4 tests, students will be allowed to make up one (1) test. This may be either because they missed the test or did poorly on it. ALL MAKE UP EXAMS WILL TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER 15 FROM 6:00 PM to 7:50 PM.

ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION

All students are expected to participate in the class webboard, and to complete the web-based assignments. If you do not have access to a computer off-campus (most public libraries have computers available for public use) there are multiple sites with computers on campus.

CHEATING

Photocopying another's homework, using computer reports or test forms that they have prepared, or copying their answers is not allowed. If I find evidence of this, all parties (including the one generating the work) will be deemed to have cheated and the appropriate sanctions for cheating will apply.

Anyone found cheating on assignments (both in-class or web-based) or homework will receive a grade of "F" for the assignment. Anyone found cheating on a test will receive an 'F" for the course and the appropriate authorities will be informed.
 
 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS

Mental Measurements Yearbook - Buros Institute (Multiple volumes)
Location: 3^rd Floor Reference Section - Ronald Williams Library

Tests: A Comprehensive Reference for Assessments in Psychology, Education, & Business (4^th Ed.). - Teddy Maddox, Editor
Location: 3^rd Floor Reference Section - Ronald Williams Library

Test Critiques ­ Daniel Keyser & Richard Sweetlands, Editors
Location: 3^rd Floor Reference Section - Ronald Williams Library

Tests in Print IV: An Index to Tests, Test Reviews, and the Literature on Specific Tests - Linda Murphy, Jane Conoley, & James Impara, Editors (also III, II, & I)
Location: 3^rd Floor Reference Section - Ronald Williams Library

Standards for Educational & Psychological Testing.