Psychological Assessment

Code:

P509

Acronym:

AP 1

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychology

Instance: 2016/2017 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIPSI	135	Official Curricular Structure	3	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Skills to understand the psychological assessment process through the development of assessment strategies, use of tools and methodologies, the conceptualization of results and writing of assessment reports in conjunction with practical lessons. The learning process should be conducted in a critical perspective, taking into account the strengths and limits of each methodology, the multicultural contexts, the social and ethical implications of the different situations of psychological assessment.

Discussion on psychological tests construction, including aspects related to standardization, reliability, validity, normative studies to understand the strengths and limitations of each test and its influence on the efficiency of psychological assessment.

Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between the theories of intelligence and assessment methodologies, also addressing concepts such as emotional intelligence.

Learning outcomes and competences

Skills in psychological assessment:

- Collection of life narratives through different types of interviews and drafting assessment strategies;

- Mastering the techniques of administration, scoring and interpretation of cognitive tests adapted to Portuguese population.

Working method

Presencial

Program

- History of psychological assessment: the conceptualization and epistemological issues.
- The ethics and psychological assessment: Code of Ethics of the psychologists association, and international guidelines on the use of tests.
- The relational and interactional component of psychological assessment.
- Methodological issues of development testing: standardization, accuracy of measurement and normative studies.
- Critical review of the classical theories of intelligence.
- The contemporary models of intelligence and cognitive assessment methodologies.
- The cognitive assessment in multicultural contexts.
- Emotional Intelligence.
- Techniques of collecting life narratives.
- Work on practical application, quotation and interpretation of tests: Wechsler Scales, Ecni, Raven Colored Matrices, D70, Rey Complex Figure, Benton VRT and ECCOS.
- Psychological Assessment report.
- Critical reflection and evaluation of teaching and learning.

Mandatory literature

Sternberg Robert J. 340; Handbook of intelligence. ISBN: 0-521-59648-3
Kaufman Alan S.; Essentials of WISC-III and WPPSI-R assessment. ISBN: 0-471-34501-6
SENDIN BANDE, Concepcion; Diagnóstico Psicológico, Psimatica, 2000. ISBN: 84-88909-06-3
Anastasi Anne; Testagem psicológica. ISBN: 85-7307-615-1
GROTH-MARNAT, G & WRIGHT A.; Handbook of Psychological Assessment, Wiley, 2016. ISBN: 978-1-118-96064-6
Kaufman Alan S.; Claves para la evaluación con el WAIS-III. ISBN: 84-7174-589-5

Complementary Bibliography

Kaufman Alan; Intelligent testing with WISC-V, Wiley, 2016. ISBN: 978-1118589236

Teaching methods and learning activities

- Content lectures by teacher and / or by students under the guidance of teaching staff.
- Research, and review of literature in extra-time class.
- Practical work on collecting and analyzing life narratives, administration, scoring and analyzing test results. Integration and conceptualization of all outcomes in the final assessment report.
- Tutorial support.

The explanation content in class will serve to guide and complement the students' work performed before each class. Lectures will give priority to critical approaches to the theories, the concepts and the controversies of psychological assessment and promote discussions with students, clarify questions and guide the study of topics for the following session. The practical classes will give priority to the acquisition of skills in the operationalization of psychological assessment by the contents exposition, the exercises and practical work with case studies.

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology > Clinical psychology
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Behavioural sciences
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Cognitive science

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Participação presencial	15,00
Trabalho laboratorial	35,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	88,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Trabalho laboratorial	20,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Prerequisite for attendance: frequency of 75% of classes taught.

To obtain the frequency of UC, students have to perform all evaluation components with a minimum value of 8.5/20. The average of all components must be at least 10/20.

Calculation formula of final grade

- Distributed evaluation with final exam: 50%

- Evaluation by reports of psychological assessment: 35%.
- Personal participation: 15%

In the evaluation through final exam, the student must obtain a minimum value of 8.5 (rating 0-20).
In the psychological assessment report component, the student must obtain a minimum value of 8.5 (rating 0-20).
The average of all components must be at least 10/20.

Classification improvement

Students can improve their classification with new examination for the theoretical component, a single time, until the end of the exam calendar of the following school year that in which they passed.