PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING

1. Introduction to the Course

Todays Lecture
Course Text

Course Objectives

Teaching Overview
Lectures
Labs

Assignments & Exams

Module Text Get One

Essentials of Psychological Testing
Dr. Susana Urbina (ISBN:9780471419785)

Available in campus bookshop

Course Objectives
Define what a psychological test is.

Take a few minutes and DISCUSS these questions with a

friend.
How do you know if you are happy?
How smart are you?
Does someone you know have trouble reading?
Are you shy in big groups?
What career path is best suited to you?

Course Objectives
Understand the purpose of psychological testing,
including the advantages and limitations.

To answer those questions, you will need some type of

test. DISCUSS the following:
Who should design it?
How do we do if it is accurate?
Will it give you the same score if you took the test
again?

Course Objectives
Gain some experience in administering and
interpreting standardized tests.

Have you ever taken an IQ test? Or any other

standardized test? Share your experience.

Have you have given someone a standardized test?

Share your experience.

Course Objectives
Understand the basic principles in test
construction, including Test Reliability and
Validity.

You have to measure someones chances of success

in university. How will you test this?

Discuss what type of test you will create.

Course Objectives
Discuss social and cultural implications of
psychological testing.

Discuss this in the context of your test to

measure success at university.

Course Objectives
Evaluate the implication of psychological
testing in special populations.

DISCUSS the following

Will your test work with all prospective college
students? Why or why not?

Are there some groups of people that your test

would not be suitable for?

Course Objectives
Apply the knowledge gained into developing a
new psychological test.

During this course, you will have the opportunity to

create a psychological test using the principles and
methods that we will learn.

Course Objectives
Carry out a critical evaluation of
psychological tests by applying knowledge
learned throughout the course.

DISCUSS
How effective will your test be?
How reliable will it be?
What will the scores tell us?

Course Overview
Course Readings: The assigned textbook and
readings are required and provide an excellent
introduction to psychological testing and the core
elements of development, scoring, and interpretation.
Standardized Tests: Through the course, youwill
have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in
administering, scoring, and interpreting a range of
psychological testing. These include tests of IQ,
executive function, attention difficulties, and mental
health.
Lab Classes

Lectures
Times: M-W 12-1:40pm
Classroom: Building 51/Room
3131

For lecture details & associated

reading see syllabus

Lab Classes
4 practical classes (labs) this
semester.

The lab classes provide a

unique setting to apply the
knowledge learned in a range
of theoretical and empirical
settings.

Attendance is required for the

LABS.

Lab Classes
Lab 1: Function of Psychological Tests
Learning to administer, score and interpret
standardized tests

Lab 2: Statistics for Testing

Learning how to test the theoretical structure
of different psychological tests

Lab 3: Test Development

Creating a new psychological test

Lab 4: Culture Fair Tests

Learn to evaluate whether a test can provide
a similar distribution of scores across
different cultures.

Lab Assignments
Assignments are due 1 week after your
Lab class.
1000 word, must be typed (hand
written work will not be accepted)

Assignments are due at the start of

class. Assignments handed in later
than this will not be accepted.

Information for each Lab Assignment

will be given during the Lab class.

Exams
There will be 3
multiple-choice exams.
Each exam is worth
100 points
Each exam counts as
25% towards your final
grade.
Attendance is required:
Make-up tests are not
given.

FINAL Exam
If you miss a test or arrive
after one has begun, you
will be able to take a
comprehensive, cumulative
final exam at the end of the
semester
The grade on this test will
be used to make up for the
test that was missed.
ONLY ONE TEST CAN BE
MADE UP FOR BY TAKING
THE FINAL EXAM.

Absence
Attendance and on time
arrival on test dates is
essential.
Should an unavoidable
circumstance prevent
attendance on an exam
date, please notify me prior
to the exam.
Be prepared to present
documented evidence
regarding the emergency.

FINAL GRADE
EACH exam counts as 25%
towards your final grade.

All 4 Lab reports count 25%

towards your final grade

Questions?
Office Hours
Monday & Wednesday 2-4pm

Email: t.alloway@unf.edu

Both of these contact options

are available from September
1, 2011.