Course Outline

PSY303 Personality and Assessment

Course Coordinator:Varghese Peter (vpeter@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Psychology

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

The course offers a thorough examination of personality theories, including trait, biological, humanistic, social-cognitive, behavioural and psychodynamic approaches. You will be introduced to, and are expected to become familiar with, a variety of methods and tests that are used to measure individual differences in personality and intelligence. Issues relating to the interpretation, reliability and validity of test scores are discussed.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online learning materials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – 2-hour on-campus tutorial/workshop for 10 weeks. 2hrs Week 1 10 times

Course Topics

  • Basic and contemporary applications
  • Psychological assessment (reliability, validity, test construction, personality assessment)
  • Theories of personality (Psychoanalytic, Neo-Analytic, Humanistic, Behaviourism, Social Cognitive, Trait, Biological)

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
1 Understand and explain theories relating to the study of personality and psychological assessment (including ethical issues). Knowledgeable
Ethical
1.1.1, 1.1.11, 1.1.2, 1.3, 1.6
2 Analyse, synthesise, apply and critically evaluate information. Creative and critical thinker
1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.3, 1.6
3 Develop writing skills, including referencing in APA style. Empowered
1.3, 1.6

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
1.1.1 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including the history and philosophy underpinning the science of psychology and the social, cultural, historical and professional influences on the practice of psychology
1.1.11 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including culturally appropriate psychological assessment and measurement
1.1.2 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including individual differences in capacity, behaviour and personality
1.3 Graduates will be able to analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
1.6 Graduates will be able to demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in psychology.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

PSY200 and PSY201 OR PSY207

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

A workshop will be conducted early in the trimester (week 3 or 4) where students can apply their knowledge of psychological testing to a scenario. This will help students to self-assess their knowledge of psychological testing principles.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 25%
1.5 hrs
Refer to Format Online Submission
All 2 Report Individual 35%
2000 words
Refer to Format Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Examination - Centrally Scheduled Individual 40%
2 hours
Exam Period Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Mid-trimester examination
Goal:
The purpose of the exam is to test your knowledge of course content.
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
This assessment task will be due between weeks 5-7 of the teaching trimester. The final date of submission for this task will be determined once public holidays and the course timetable have been published prior to the commencement of trimester. Please refer to your course Canvas site at the commencement of the teaching trimester to confirm the due date for this assessment task.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Accuracy and correctness of responses
1 2 3
Generic Skills:
All - Assessment Task 2:Major Lab Report
Goal:
The purpose of this report is to apply personality theory to other areas of psychological functioning.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format:
The word limit for this report is 2000 words. You will write up the results from data collected in class in the form of a laboratory report. It is expected that you will generate your own research topic, and hypotheses and conduct appropriate analyses (assistance will be provided in tutorials). For example, you may like to explore the relationship between personality and coping styles. Other examples and starting references will be provided in Week 1 on Canvas.
This assessment task will be due between weeks 9-11 of the teaching trimester. The final date of submission for this task will be determined once public holidays and the course timetable have been published prior to the commencement of trimester. Please refer to your course Canvas site at the commencement of the teaching trimester to confirm the due date for this assessment task.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Ability to write to set word limit.
2
2
Understanding and critical review of relevant literature
1 2 3
3
Development of appropriate hypotheses
1 2
4
Correct description of the research methodology
3
5
Satisfactory interpretation and analysis of the results
2 3
6
Use of written expression that is consistent with writing for psychology including the correct use of APA style
3
Generic Skills:
All - Assessment Task 3:Examination
Goal:
The purpose of this assessment is to test your knowledge of the course content.
Product: Examination - Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
The two-hour exam will occur during the central examination period.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Accuracy and correctness of responses
1 2 3
Generic Skills:

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Robert J. Gregory 2015 Psychological Testing: History, Principles, and Applications, Global Edition n/a Pearson Higher Ed
Required Howard S. Friedman,Miriam W. Schustack 2013 Personality: Pearson New International Edition n/a Pearson Higher Ed

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: