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Psy454G: Psychological Tests and
Measurements
Course Overview
This course is designed to provide an introduction
to the principles of psychological testing and how tests operate
in different settings (e.g., clinical, educational, and vocational
contexts). We will discuss aspects of psychological testing,
test construction, assessment techniques, and ethical issues in
assessment. The course will include both a traditional teaching
model (i.e., textbook, lectures, and tests) as well as a strong
experiential component (i.e., hands-on projects).
By the end of this course, students will:
- Understand basic concepts of test construction
- Understand concepts of standardization and interpretation
of norms
- Understand how to evaluate the “goodness” of a test
- Gain experience in developing and evaluating a measure
- Be familiar with the various theoretical, ethical, and professional
issues related to psychological measurement
- Be able to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of
any published psychological measure
Prerequisite
Students must have successfully completed Research
in Psychology II: Research Methodology (Psy323) or must
obtain permission from the instructor in order to take this course.
Textbook
| Cohen, R. J. &
Swerdlik, M. E. (2002). Psychological testing
and assessment (5th ed.). Boston:
McGraw Hill. |
Exams (150 points)
There will be three non-cumulative, in-class examinations.
The exam format may include multiple choice, short answer, definition,
and application questions. The exams will cover material
from the readings as well as from class lectures and discussions.
Each exam is worth 50 points, for a total of 150 points toward
your final grade.
Make-up exams are not offered unless you make
prior arrangements with me and only in cases of genuine and
documented health or family emergencies.
Assessment Project (100 points)
A considerable portion of your grade will be based
on your performance on a group assessment project. For this
project you will be required to work in a group of 3-4 people
to develop a new scale assessing a psychological attribute.
You will construct a new measure and collect data to evaluate
its reliability and validity. The completed project will
include a written report in APA format describing the results
of this project. A substantial amount of lab time will be
devoted to work on this group project.
The assignment has four components that must be
turned in. First, you will develop a proposal (10 points)
in which you identify the psychological construct or behavior
that you want to measure and provide a list of sources you will
use in creating the test. The proposal serves as the first
opportunity for you to get feedback and guidance.
The second component is the Introduction and (updated)
References sections in APA format (20 points). The Introduction
section should define the variable you are measuring and describe
the theories and previous empirical research that apply to your
definition. In addition, the Introduction should provide
an argument for why a new measure is needed.
The third component includes a Method section in
APA style, a draft of your scale, and a proposal for reliability,
validity, and item analysis (20 points).
The fourth component is a final version of the test
and the full APA-style report describing its development (50 points).
Policy on Attendance
Because your input is critical to the success of
the course, attendance is mandatory. Please be considerate of
your classmates and me by not coming in late. Students who
are late for class will be counted absent. If you fall ill
or miss class for any reason, please contact me (and your project
teammates) to make arrangements.
Policy on Late Assignments
I do not accept late assignments unless you make
prior arrangements with me.
Policy on Writing Quality
Senior/graduate level writing is clear, thorough,
focused, provides specific examples to support positions taken,
and shows originality of thought. It is founded in scholarly
research, properly cites resources, and minimizes quotations (APA
frowns on direct quotes, so it is best to make sure you have put
someone else’s idea entirely into your own words). Work
must be proofread for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Policy on Academic Integrity
I expect that you, as honorable student scholars,
will do your own work and not take credit for the effort and ideas
of others. This includes plagiarism, cheating, and not contributing
to group projects. Any student caught cheating on a test
or plagiarizing any written work or loafing on group activities
will, at the very least, receive a zero on that assignment.
Dishonest students may receive a failing grade for the course
and may be expelled from the university. Please refer to
the student handbook for detailed information on academic dishonesty.
Grades
Evaluation for all components of this course will
follow these guidelines:
- A = achievement that is OUTSTANDING relative to the level
necessary to meet course requirements
- B = achievement that is SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE the level necessary
to meet course requirements
- C = achievement that MEETS the course requirements in every
respect
- D = achievement that is WORTHY OF CREDIT, even though it
fails to fully meet the course requirements
- F = failure due to 1) work not completed; or 2) work at
a level of achievement not worthy of credit
There are a total of 250 points
available from exams and the assessment project. Grades
will be based on the following point values:
A |
225 or above |
| B |
200-224 |
| C |
175-199 |
| D |
150-174 |
| F |
Below
150 |
Grades are available to students at any time on
the course web page. You can log into the course web page from
any computer that has Internet access. Grades are located under
"Student Tools."
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