Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to administer and interpret a wide range of psychological tests and assessment instruments. Students should be able to write a comprehensive assessment report and they should also have acquired the necessary theoretical and psychometric background to assess the value and uses of assessment instruments.
Synopsis This subject will cover the various types of psychological assessment. The emphasis will be strongly applied, which means that the theory will be presented through practical casework. This means that students will be required to read a substantial amount of clinical theory and case material relevant to cases covered in the class. Students will have the opportunity to become skilled in (a) diagnostic testing in a clinical context, (b) personality and vocational assessment, (c) neuropsychological tests to be used for screening purposes, and (d) cognitive and intelligence testing. Strategies for testing different age groups will be discussed and some emphasis given to child assessment. Although a range of approaches to assessment will be considered, the basic orientation of the subject is psychodynamic and phenomenological. Further, considerable emphasis will be put on the psychological report. Each student should contact the lecturer approximately three weeks before the commencement of the semester.
Assessment Practical work/Fieldwork + Minor weekly assignments + Three detailed case reports: 33% each