units

AZA3462

Faculty of Arts

18 September 2017 23 December 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

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LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Arts
Organisational UnitSchool of Social Science, South Africa
OfferedSouth Africa First semester 2013 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Dr Maria Damianova

Synopsis

The unit explores some widely used standardised psychology tests including South African tests. It gives an overview of the principles and processes of test development and the concepts of test reliability and validity. Major themes include methods for establishing the relative influence of heredity and environment on human intelligence, causes of intellectual disability, and intervention programs for disadvantaged and disabled children. The unit also covers theories of ability and how our thinking about human abilities is influenced by our cultural framework. A basic knowledge of the ethical, legal and professional responsibilities of psychologists is provided.

Outcomes

On completion of the unit the students will be able to:

  1. Describe the origins and social context in which psychometric testing developed.
  2. Discuss the principles of reliability, validity and item analysis.
  3. Construct and administer psychometric tests.
  4. Critically evaluate the psychometric properties of psychological tests.
  5. Interpret test scores.
  6. Identify diverse applications of psychological testing.
  7. Relate the relevant theories of intelligence.
  8. Appraise genetic and environmental factors which influence human intelligence.
  9. Analyse some causes of intellectual disability.
  10. Discuss group differences in the testing process.
  11. Describe the social implications of psychological testing.
  12. Express the key ethical principles and identify potential ethical dilemmas regarding psychological assessment and suggest possible solutions.

Assessment

Lecture topic quizzes: 10%
Class participation assignments: 10%
Critical thinking exercises: 30%
Examination: 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Maria Damianova

Contact hours

2 hours lecture contact for 12 weeks
2 hours tutorials contact for 10 weeks
8 hours for private study, including reading of prescribed and recommended literature, review of and familiarisation with a wider range of publications on the core content topics of the unit, work on assignments, preparation for class discussions and presentations.

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Psychology

Prerequisites

AZA1019, AZA1020, AZA2460, AZA2455, AZA2490, AZA2495

Co-requisites

AZA3465, AZA3135, AZA3360

Prohibitions

PSY3041, PSY2011, PSY2051, PSY2022