Psychological Assessment I

Year
3
Academic year
2019-2020
Code
01740229
Subject Area
Psychology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Compulsory
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

Lectures using audiovisual means (power point, vídeos), supplemented with practical exercises. Classes involves: the definition of its objectives; the framing of the topic of the class in the context of theory, models and the process of psychological assessment; the presentation of concepts; the characterization of assessment techniques and instruments; the identification of problems and solutions; a summary; training with assessment materials: structured interview grids, observation grids, brief presentation of tests and instruments. e-learning (NONIO platform).

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the Psychological Assessment (PA) program/project as a specific and distinctive element of psychologists' scientific and professional activities.

2.Recognize the importance of the measure in Psychology/PA and the need to use various methods, techniques, instruments and informants in the process of PA, as well as the impact of psychological processes on decision-making.

3. Identify technical, psychometric and ethical/deontological issues related to the adaptation, validation and use of psychological assessment methods, techniques, tools and psychological reports.

4. Understand objectives, theoretical and practical assumptions, advantages and specific limits of each of the methodologies and techniques of PA referred to in this curricular unit (interviews, direct observation, behavior assessment scales, psychological tests).

5.Obtain basic skills in assessment interviews and direct observation.

6. Demonstrate ability to communicate information obtained in the process of PA.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

 1. Psychological Assessment: definitions, objectives, phases in the process, guidelines. The hypothesis test model. Psychological characteristics or dimensions that are subject to evaluation.

2. History of Psychological Assessment.

3. The Psychological Assessment in Portugal.

4. Psychometrics.

5. Interviews (SCICA, PCL-R).

6. Behavior checlists (CBCL, TRF).

7. Direct observation (TOF, DOF, GATSB).

8. Tests and other psychological assessment instruments.

9. Models of Psychological Assessment.

10. Relationships between psychological assessment and intervention.

11. Decision making process in Psychological Assessment: heuristics, biases and errors.

12. Ethics and deontology in Psychological Assessment.

13. Contexts of Psychological Assessment.

14. Psychological reports.

Head Lecturer(s)

Mário Manuel Rodrigues Simões

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Frequency: 100.0%

Bibliography

American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, American Council on Measurement  in Education (2014). Standards for educational and psychological testing (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association.

Cohen, R.J., & Swerdlik, M.E. (2018). Psychological testing and assessment: An introduction to tests and measurement (9th ed.). NY: McGraw-Hill.

Goldfinger, K. (2014). Psychological assessment and report writing. Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage.

Groth-Marnat, G. (2016). Handbook of psychological assessment (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Hambleton, R.K., Merenda, P.F., & Spielberger, C.D. (Eds.) (2005). Adapting educational and psychological tests for cross-cultural assessment. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Morrison, J. (2016). The first interview (4th ed.). NY: Guilford.

Segal, D.L., & Hersen, M. (Eds.) (2010). Diagnostic interviewing (4th ed.). NY: Springer.

Suhr, J. A. (2015). Psychological assessment: A problem solving approach. NY: Guilford.