Standard Diagnostic Methods 2500-EN-O-56

Once this course is completed, students are expected to be able to:
 Be thoroughly familiar with basic psychometric concepts and formulas
and be able to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of any
published psychological test.
 Be familiar with the various ethical and professional issues related to
psychological assessment.
 Demonstrate the ability of professional administration, scoring,
interpretation and reporting of selected tests.
 Demonstrate the skills of giving the neutral and objective feedback.
 Use Library & Internet sources in acquiring of information about
psychological tests.

1. Diagnosis: 60% of final grade
The main project in this course is to conduct an individual assessment
based on three psychological tests. The reports you will write are a
case study using standard methods. Your goal is to find one young
person (end of high school beginning of college) willing to participate
in three test sessions. The overarching aim of your diagnosis is
creating a basis for advising them in a transition period (changing
school, choosing new directions in life). Diagnosis means you will
need to prepare three technical and one final report:

• Technical Reports
Three two short reports from assessments are worth 30% of your
grade each. Technical reports should consist of a description of
the subject, administration of the test, the test score and brief
interpretation. Knowledge from our classes and obligatory
literature will help you in this exercise. These reports should be
approximately 2-4 pages (Raven, NEO-P-R, CISS)

• Final Report
A final report will be worth 20% of your grade. The final report is
a compilation of the three technical, enriched with an
interpretation of broad functioning, this should serve as an
overall assessment of your testing subject. You will receive
structure and guidelines concerning the final report. Final report
– 7-8 pages (excluding appendixes such as filled test forms and
score tables).

2. Test Critique Project (assignment in pairs) 10% of final grade
You will be assigned to pairs of 2 people.
We will provide list of test available in LTD. Once you have selected a
test, you will need to contact the LTD, obtain a copy (along with any
manuals, pilot studies and/or reliability and validity data available)
and complete a literature search to find studies conducted using this
test in other settings. Based on your understanding of these
materials, you will have to prepare a brief presentation in class (15-
minute presentation).

Guiding questions:
• What is the test designed for?
• How was it created and normed?
• Would you use it? Why or why not? If so, for what
purpose(s)?
• Does it appear to be adequately constructed?
• Does it appear to be adequately normed?
• Is reliability and validity established?
• Do other test to measure the same thing exist? Finally you
will need to summarize the theoretical framework upon
which the test you selected is based and indicate the
population for which it is designed to be used.

3. Final test 30% of final grade
There will be open-ended questions concerning general testing issues
discussed during classes (they may refer to both practical and
theoretical issues).

Notice 1:
In the final report any scoring mistakes will not be accepted. Use feedback
from technical reports to create a final report without mistakes. Scoring
mistakes will automatically earn you a zero for the final report.

Notice 2:
Term “Deadline” refers to beginning of the class.

Notice 3:
We expect hard (printed) copy of each paper (hard copy printed on white
A4 format paper, Font 12, Times New Roman, double spaced) with all
appendixes (test answer sheets, profile forms etc.). We also ask for
electronic version of your work sent by e-mail.

Notice 4:
The deadlines for reports are non-negotiable. Late report will be accepted
but your score will be reduced by 50%.

It is your responsibility to backup your computer, make backup copies of
your work, arrange with your brother access to his printer, book tickets to
earlier flight from Bermuda and do all the necessary steps in order to
ensure that you attend classes and you do not lose your paper right
before it is due.

Notice 6:
The paper is to be the product of independent work. Plagiarism is
unacceptable and will result in an automatic FAILURE.

Notice 7:
rewriting of final report is possible only for those who scored below 50%
of points (failed).

Notice 8:
rewriting of the final exam is possible only for those who scored below
50% of points (failed).

Grading and passing
In order to pass the course the requirements are:
 Passing final test (min. 16 points)
 Passing the final report (min. 16 points)
 Completing all class assignments
 Getting min. 60 points from all the activities

Grading:
 Technical report no. 1 (Raven) - 10% (10 points)
 Technical report no. 2 (NEO-P-R) – 10% (10 points)
 Technical report no. 3 (CISS) - 10% (10 points)
 Final report (overall diagnosis) - 30% (30 points)
 Test critique project - 10% (10 points)
 Final test - 30% (30 points)

You can get a maximum of 100 points from all the activities described
above. Your final grade depends on the total number of points gained.
0-59 points = 2 (not passing)
60-67 points = 3
68 – 75 points = 3,5
76 – 83 points = 4
84 – 91 points = 4,5
92 – 99 points = 5
100 points = 5!

Attendance rules
No more than 2 classes can be missed, irrespective of excuse

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

• Psychology Studies in English, full-time

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

• Description of 2500-EN-O-56 in USOSweb