Course Outline
PSY701 Advanced Psychological Assessment and Reporting
Course Coordinator:Celine Jona (cjona@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Psychology
2024Semester 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast |
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 usc.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 UniSC postgraduate psychology programs are committed to maintaining the primacy of public safety in the delivery of the program within the education and placement environments. This subject extends your previous studies in psychological assessment, including psychometric theory and research, with a focus on appropriate selection, administration and interpretation of major psychological tests in clinical use. You are introduced to different forms of psychological reports. Completion of this course will allow you to develop skills in integrating clinical findings to develop informative clinical reports and recommendations, including a focus on developing assessment skills to guide recommendations and treatment planning. Relevant ethical and legal issues are addressed.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus workshop - 3 hours | 3hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
Course Topics
- Psychometrics
- Test selection
- Test administration
- Scoring and interpretation of major tests in clinical use
- Report writing
- Ethics of assessment
- Behavioural assessment
- Culture fair assessments
- Feedback sessions
What level is this course?
700 Level (Specialised)
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 | Show knowledge and understanding of current research and theory in the field of clinical assessment and psychometrics. |
Knowledgeable Ethical |
3.2, 3.5, 3.9, 3.16, 4.2.1.1, 4.2.2.1 |
| 2 | Show knowledge of the information required to select relevant assessment procedures and psychological tests. |
Knowledgeable Ethical |
3.4, 3.6, 3.10, 3.12, 3.16, 4.2.2.1, 4.2.2.2, 4.2.2.3 |
| 3 | Show knowledge of and competence in the administration, scoring and interpretation of the major psychological tests commonly used in psychological practice. |
Knowledgeable Empowered |
3.2, 3.4, 4.2.2.2, 4.2.2.3 |
| 4 | Show knowledge of and competence in the procedures involved in writing effective psychological assessment reports. |
Empowered Ethical |
3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.8, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, 4.2.1.1, 4.2.2.1, 4.2.2.2, 4.2.2.3, 4.2.3.3 |
| 5 | Show awareness of the limitations and common misconceptions in psychological testing. Show awareness and use of ethical issues using the APS Code of Ethics and its accompanying Guidelines to resolve ethical questions. | Ethical |
3.4, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 3.14, 3.16, 4.2.2.2, 4.2.3.4 |
* Competencies by Professional Body
| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| Australian Psychology Accreditation Council | |
| 3.2 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, and consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings and codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically apply evidence-based and scientific methods to professional practice across the lifespan in empirically valid and culturally responsive ways. |
| 3.3 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, and consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings and codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically employ professional communication skills, in a culturally responsive manner, with a range of socially and culturally diverse clients. |
| 3.4 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, and consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings and codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically perform appropriate standardised psychological testing, as part of broader assessment, to assess and interpret aspects of functioning. |
| 3.5 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, and consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings and codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically identify psychological disorders using a recognised taxonomy. |
| 3.6 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, and consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings and codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically conduct professional interviews and assessments and synthesise information from multiple sources, including assessment of risk, to formulate a conceptualisation of the presenting issues to determine the most appropriate interventions. |
| 3.8 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, & consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings & codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically interpret and communicate findings in oral and written formats, including formal psychological reports, using culturally appropriate language. |
| 3.9 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, & consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings & codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically implement appropriate, empirically supported interventions, and monitor clients’ progress and intervention outcomes. |
| 3.10 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, & consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings & codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically demonstrate respect for the skills and contribution of other professionals. |
| 3.11 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, & consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings & codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically work effectively with a range of professional and support staff in the workplace and communicate and collaborate effectively, within the bounds of ethical and legal requirements. |
| 3.12 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, & consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings & codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically operate within the boundaries of their professional competence, consult with peers or other relevant sources where appropriate, and refer on to relevant other practitioners where appropriate. |
| 3.13 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, & consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings & codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically rigorously apply professional practice policies and procedures, including as they relate to referral management and record-keeping, across a range of workplace settings and with recognition of different organisational cultures and practices. |
| 3.14 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, & consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings & codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically engage in self-reflective professional practice, taking account of the impact of their own values and beliefs, and taking appropriate actions as a result. |
| 3.16 | Taking into account the broad diversity of clients, & consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards, occupational settings & codes of ethical practice, graduates apply psychological knowledge to competently and ethically critically evaluate contemporary scientific literature to inform practice. |
| 4.2.1.1 | Graduates apply advanced psychological knowledge of the following to their practice in clinical psychology: psychological theories of the aetiology, progression and/or recovery, precursors and sequelae of psychological disorders, including incidence, prevalence and predisposing, risk, protective and maintenance factors |
| 4.2.2.1 | Graduates apply advanced psychological knowledge to culturally responsive assessment in the area of clinical psychology, including: evaluation of psychological disorders with reference to relevant international taxonomies of classification, including disorders of moderate to severe level and complexity |
| 4.2.2.2 | Graduates apply advanced psychological knowledge to culturally responsive assessment in the area of clinical psychology, including: use of assessment tools and processes related to a wide range of psychological disorders, and including psychometric tests, structured or semi-structured interviews, behavioural observations, measures of functionality and processes that enable collection of collateral information from multiple sources, including groups and systems relevant to the client |
| 4.2.2.3 | Graduates apply advanced psychological knowledge to culturally responsive assessment in the area of clinical psychology, including: integration, interpretation, and synthesis of clinical psychological assessment data with the knowledge of psychopathology to inform case formulation, diagnosis and intervention |
| 4.2.3.3 | Graduates apply advanced psychological knowledge to culturally responsive interventions in the area of clinical psychology, including: consultation and collaboration with other professionals regarding clinical planning and referrals, particularly in the context of complex case presentations |
| 4.2.3.4 | Graduates apply advanced psychological knowledge to culturally responsive interventions in the area of clinical psychology, including: evidence-based practice in the understanding and management of psychological disorders, including across the age range and across modalities such as e-health approaches. |
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
Enrolled in Program AR702 or AR703.
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
Not applicable
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Limited Grading (PNP)
Details of early feedback on progress
Early formative feedback will be provided via online quizzes completed before class, prior to week 5. This will provide feedback about your academic progress and understanding of key concepts. Please use this feedback to seek additional supports if necessary.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Practical / Laboratory Skills | Individual | 1-2 hours |
Week 5 | To Supervisor |
| All | 2 | Written Piece | Individual | 3000 words maximum |
Week 13 | To Supervisor |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Intelligence test administration (WISC-V or WAIS-IV), and reflection | |
| Goal: | The goal of this assessment is to assess your ability to competently administer EITHER the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children 5th edition OR the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 4th edition, and to reflect on your work |
| Product: | Practical / Laboratory Skills |
| Format: | You will provide a video demonstration of your ability to administer either the WISC-V or the WAIS-IV conducted as a role play with a ‘client’ (another student who acts as the client). You will video yourself administering the full battery (core and supplementary subtests) and the course coordinator will choose a selection of subtests to mark. Please provide the exact time points in the video for when each subtest begins (listing these in your written submission) so each subtest can be easily found for the marker. You will provide a 1 page (maximum) single lined, typed page of self-reflection on the strengths and areas for improvement in your administration, and provide brief reflection on your experiences as a ‘client’. |
| Criteria: |
|
| All - Assessment Task 2:Cognitive assessment report | |
| Goal: | This assessment is to help you develop skills in scoring and interpreting commonly used psychometric assessments to inform the development of an effective report that includes appropriate recommendations. |
| Product: | Written Piece |
| Format: | Using the raw data provided, score and interpret the relevant psychometric tests and prepare a report based on your findings. The report should be targeted to the referral source and include recommendations that are appropriate to referral question and tests used. |
| Criteria: |
|
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
Specific requirements
You are expected to attend all workshops. For any workshop that is missed you will need to demonstrate to your course co-ordinator that you have covered the required material. This will usually take the form of a detailed summary and reflection of the Directed Study Activities for the missed material.
How are risks managed in this course?
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
This course will be graded as Pass in a Limited Grade Course (PU) or Fail in a Limited Grade Course (UF) as per clause 4.1.3 and 4.1.4 of the Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA) - Institutional Operating Policy of the USC. In a course eligible to use Limited Grades, all assessment items in that course are marked on a Pass/Fail basis and all assessment tasks are required to be passed for a student to successfully complete the course. Supplementary assessment is not available in courses using Limited Grades.
Assessment: Submission penalties
All extension requests to be managed according to the online USC Psychology extension request forms
SafeUniSC
UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.
The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.
Study help
For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.
If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.
Wellbeing Services
Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.
AccessAbility Services
Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.
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
-
In person:
- UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
- UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
- UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
- UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
- UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
- UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
- Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
- Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au