Psychological Assessment

Code:

LPSI208

Acronym:

AP

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychology

Instance: 2025/2026 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	First degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LPSIC	179	Official Curricular Structure	2	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

This UC aims to make a fundamental contribution to the training of students in Psychological Assessment, namely through the study of the main theories, instruments and evaluation methodologies to be implemented during theoretical and practical classes, and a case study.

Learning outcomes and competences

Skills in psychological assessment:

1. To understand the relationships between psychological models and psychological assessment methodologies, their differences and complementarities.
2. To know the theoretical rationale of self-report instruments and performance-based tests, such as projective tests.
3. To master the technique of the initial psychological interview.
4. To master the development of strategies for psychological assessment, based on life history and the identification of the problem.
5. To know the methodologies of administration, scoring and interpretation of psychological assessment tests, namely self-report scales and projective techniques.
6. To elaborate a psychological assessment report with the integrative conceptualization of results from different sources of information, allowing the understanding of the case and pointing out the characteristics that may change.

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

Theoretical Component:

Phases of Psychological Assessment
This class explores the different stages of the psychological assessment process, from hypothesis formulation to the feedback of results, also addressing the objectives and limitations of each stage.

Interviews in Psychological Assessment
A theoretical and practical discussion of the different types of interviews (structured, semi-structured, clinical) used in psychological assessment, with an emphasis on communication skills and active listening.

Mental Status Assessment
Introduction to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) as a cognitive screening tool, and discussion of behavioural observation and assessment methods in clinical settings.

Behavioural Assessment
In-depth exploration of behavioural data collection and analysis strategies, including direct and indirect behaviour recording, focusing on clinical and educational assessment contexts.

Personality Assessment I
Exploration of classical psychometric approaches to personality assessment, with a focus on objective instruments and self-report measures.

Personality Assessment II
Continuation of the previous class, including analysis of specific instruments and discussion of the clinical and research relevance of the results obtained.

Schema Theory and Projective Techniques: Introduction
Presentation of the theoretical foundations of schema theory. Contextualisation of projective techniques and critical reflection on their role in psychological assessment.

Suicide Risk Assessment
Assessment and identification of risk indicators, with a focus on the clinical evaluation of suicide risk.

Personality Assessment: An Integrative Theory
An integrative perspective on personality assessment, combining different theoretical approaches and instruments.

Ethics and Deontology in Psychological Assessment
Analysis of the core ethical and deontological principles in the practice of psychological assessment, based on the Code of Ethics of the Portuguese Psychologists Association.

Assessment of Psychotherapeutic Process and Therapeutic Alliance
The relationship between psychological assessment and intervention, with a focus on process evaluation and the therapeutic alliance.

Theoretical-Practical Component:

1. In-depth Exploration of the Initial Psychological Interview
   Detailed examination of the structure, objectives, and techniques involved in conducting an initial psychological interview.

2. Stages of the Psychological Assessment Process: Reflection and Discussion
   Reflective and critical discussion on each stage of the psychological assessment process, from referral to final reporting.

3. Methods of Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation of Self-Report Tests
   Overview of procedures for applying, scoring, and interpreting various self-report psychological tests.

4. Practical Work on the Application, Scoring, and Interpretation of Self-Report Tests and the Writing of Psychological Assessment Reports
   Hands-on activities focused on administering, scoring, and interpreting self-report instruments, and developing integrated psychological assessment reports.

5. Case Studies and Role-Play – Critical Reflection and Evaluation of the Teaching-Learning Process
   Practical sessions involving case analysis and role-play, aimed at encouraging critical reflection and assessment of the learning experience.

Mandatory literature

GROTH-MARNAT, G., WRIGHT, A.; Handbook Of Psychological Assessment, Wiley, 2016. ISBN: 978-1-118-96064-6
McAdams, D. P.; The person: An introduction to the science of personality psychology (5th Ed.)., Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons., 2009

Complementary Bibliography

HILSENROTH, M., SEGAL, D., HERSEN, M.; Comprehensive Handbook of Psychological Assessment, Volume 2, Personality Assessment, Wiley, 2004. ISBN: 978-0-471-41612-8
Kline, P; Handbook of psychological testing, New York: Routledge, 2013
WRIGHT, A.; Conducting Psychological Assessment, Wiley, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-470-53675-9
HAYNES, S., HEIBY, E. ; Comprehensive Handbook of Psychological Assessment, Volume 3: Behavioral Assessment, Wiley, 2004. ISBN: 0-471-41614-2
WEINER, I. B., GREENE, R. L.; Handbook of Personality Assessment (2nd Ed.), Wiley, 2017
SCHNEIDER, W. J., LICHTENBERGER, E., MATHER, N., KAUFMAN, N.; Essentials of Report Writing (2ND ED.), Wiley, 2018. ISBN: 978-1-119-2187-3

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.
- Support tutorial.
- 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 > Behavioural sciences
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Cognitive science
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology > Differential psychology
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology > Clinical psychology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	78,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Trabalho de campo	10,00
Trabalho escrito	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, but 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: 50%

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 last year of their licenciatura.

To improve their classificatin in the practical work, student must enrol the UC again.