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Module Overview10.html

What is Testing and Assessment?

Psychological testing and assessment date back to the early twentieth century, when Alfred Binet published a test to help place students in appropriate classrooms. Since that time, testing has evolved tremendously. Testing is now utilized across a wide range of settings for a variety of purposes. Assessments, which were once designed for academic purposes, now help psychologists examine domains such as cognitive ability, academic achievement, executive functioning, personality, and memory. Assessments are used to gain diagnostic clarity, inform treatment, provide insight around one’s personality, and inform research. There are also a wide array of testing methods that can be utilized, such as self-reports, behavioral observations, and structured assessments. Psychological testing has become an integral part of how we conduct treatment, inform research, and provide recommendations.

This course will require you to apply the concepts you have learned in previous courses. The statistical knowledge obtained from these previous courses will allow you to understand how tests are developed (i.e., normed groups), what makes a good test (i.e., reliability and validity), and the interpretation of the results (t-tests, z-scores, type I and type II errors, etc.). This course will teach you about various psychometric and measurement techniques for the purpose of analyzing data derived from the results of psychological assessments. By the conclusion of the course, you should be able to do the following:

• Adapt to shifting demands and ill-structured problems by critically evaluating the relevance, priority, and appropriateness of various information and potential courses of action.
• Design, conduct, and evaluate research through the lens of its potential to advance both our knowledge in psychology and the psychological well-being of individuals, communities, and organizations.
• Protect the integrity and professional responsibility of psychology through the demonstration of ethical comportment in all aspects of the profession.

In this module, you will have the opportunity to experience first-hand what it is like to take a personality test. While these tests are for informational purposes only, they will allow you the hands-on experience of a client who takes a test and sees the resulting output. You will also take on the role of a psychologist as you choose a vignette that will guide your final project. The vignette includes information about the tests that are administered to help answer a referral question. The assignments in this module are the first step to understanding what it is like to use tests and how clinicians use these assessments in their daily work.

Reading and Resources.html

Required Resources

When you select links to the textbook readings, be sure to then select the textbook image below the Read heading on the left navigation bar to access the full chapters. You will need to understand and cite information in the chapters and the additional required resources to fully meet the criteria for discussions and course assignments.

Textbook:  Psychological Testing and Assessment, Chapter 1 As you read, think about the following:

• What are some applications of psychological testing?
• What are a few different types of psychological testing?
• What are some settings where psychological testing is utilized?
• Who are the different parties involved in psychological testing?

A Guide to Psychology and Its Practice: Psychological Testing This resource provides a general overview of the different types of tests and how these tests are often utilized by practitioners in a variety of settings. This article will help you with the Module One discussion.

Additional Support (Optional)

The Myers and Briggs Foundation: MBTI Basics This article explains how the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is used in psychological testing and help you with the journal assignment. Consider the following questions as you read:

• What are the two related goals in the developments and application of the MBTI instrument?
• What topics are included in the MBTI?

Holland Codes (RIASEC): Choose the Right Career for You This article explains how John Holland developed a unique aptitude test to aid people with career choice. It will help you with your journal assignment. Consider the following questions as you read:

• What does the acronym RIASEC stand for?
• What are the procedures, instructions, interpretation, and validity of this test?

Video:  Myers-Briggs Personality Test (7:55) This video explains how your personality type (based on the MBTI) can affect your relationships and career.

Graduate Discussion Rubric.html

Graduate Discussion Rubric

Overview

Your active participation in the discussions is essential to your overall success this term. Discussion questions will help you make meaningful connections between the course content and the larger concepts of the course. These discussions give you a chance to express your own thoughts, ask questions, and gain insight from your peers and instructor.

Directions

For each discussion, you must create one initial post and follow up with at least two response posts.

For your initial post, do the following:

• Write a post of 1 to 2 paragraphs.
• In Module One, complete your initial post by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
• In Modules Two through Ten, complete your initial post by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. of your local time zone.
• Consider content from other parts of the course where appropriate. Use proper citation methods for your discipline when referencing scholarly or popular sources.

For your response posts, do the following:

• Reply to at least two classmates outside of your own initial post thread.
• In Module One, complete your two response posts by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
• In Modules Two through Ten, complete your two response posts by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. of your local time zone.
• Demonstrate more depth and thought than saying things like “I agree” or “You are wrong.” Guidance is provided for you in the discussion prompt.

Discussion Rubric

Criteria	Exemplary	Proficient	Needs Improvement	Not Evident	Value
Comprehension	Develops an initial post with an organized, clear point of view or idea using rich and significant detail (100%)	Develops an initial post with a point of view or idea using appropriate detail (90%)	Develops an initial post with a point of view or idea but with some gaps in organization and detail (70%)	Does not develop an initial post with an organized point of view or idea (0%)	20
Timeliness	N/A	Submits initial post on time (100%)	Submits initial post one day late (70%)	Submits initial post two or more days late (0%)	10
Engagement	Provides relevant and meaningful response posts with clarifying explanation and detail (100%)	Provides relevant response posts with some explanation and detail (90%)	Provides somewhat relevant response posts with some explanation and detail (70%)	Provides response posts that are generic with little explanation or detail (0%)	20
Critical Thinking	Draws insightful conclusions that are thoroughly defended with evidence and examples (100%)	Draws informed conclusions that are justified with evidence (90%)	Draws logical conclusions (70%)	Does not draw logical conclusions (0%)	30
Writing (Mechanics)	Initial post and responses are easily understood, clear, and concise using proper citation methods where applicable with no errors in citations (100%)	Initial post and responses are easily understood using proper citation methods where applicable with few errors in citations (90%)	Initial post and responses are understandable using proper citation methods where applicable with a number of errors in citations (70%)	Initial post and responses are not understandable and do not use proper citation methods where applicable (0%)	20
Total:	100%