units

PSY4270

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

18 September 2017 27 April 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 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

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational UnitSchool of Psychological Sciences
OfferedClayton Second semester 2014 (Day)
Malaysia Second semester 2014 (Day)
South Africa Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Dr Bei Bei

Synopsis

The unit will provide students with a theoretical overview of individual differences, and how these may be assessed and treated using evidence-based approaches. The course of study will include the theoretical background to the development of classes of tests, detailed examination of a range of models of human ability, and other individual difference issues. The different approaches to the design and construction of personality assessment tools will also be addressed. Test evaluation methods and a review of recent trends in test development theory will also be covered. The unit will also cover the administration, scoring, and interpretation of a range of psychological tests and classification tools. An overview of evidence-based interventions for behavioural changes as well as interventions for common clinical disorders will also be discussed.

Outcomes

At the end of the Unit, students will:

  1. possess a sound knowledge of the theoretical and historical bases of test development, particularly measures of ability and personality
  2. be able to decide on the appropriate assessment procedures necessary to undertake specific psychological classification
  3. possess the basic skills necessary to summarise the findings of psychological assessments in the form of a professional report
  4. appreciate the limitations of psychological assessment tools and how they can be misused
  5. appreciate the ethical issues related to the administration, interpretation, and reporting of psychological test results
  6. understand the place of psychological assessment in psychological practice
  7. integrate data obtained from a number of sources to produce a psychological report
  8. be thoroughly conversant with the principles of psychological assessment
  9. have developed beginning level skills in administration, scoring and interpretation of psychological tests
  10. knowledge of the theoretical and empirical bases of evidence-based approaches to psychological intervention
  11. an understanding of the integration of assessment and intervention for behavioural changes and symptom improvements.

Assessment

Essay (2000 words): 30%
Report on psychological assessment: 40%
Multiple-choice and short answer exam: 30%
Attendance (hurdle requirement attendance 75%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Bei Bei

Workload requirements

Twelve 2 hour lectures (delivered weekly), and two 2 hour practical workshops.

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

Psychology

Prerequisites

Completed Bachelors Degree and a major sequence in psychology approved by the Australian Psychological Society or qualification assessed as equivalent by the Australian Psychological Society, with a distinction average for third year psychology units.

Prohibitions

PSY4503.