Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Evaluation and Diagnosis Techniques
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Introduction
This course aims to present the student the different techniques that exist in the psychology field to assess different aspects of the person. Special emphasis is made in psychometrics and test construction, as well as on the importance of knowing how to choose good instruments that have been previously validated and are optimal for each specific situation.
The student will learn what are the most used instruments, how to use and pass them, how to interpret the results correctly and to write a good clinical report.
Pre-course requirements
Not required.
Objectives
- To learn the psychological evaluation process
- To learn the different evaluation techniques and the principal instruments of each of them
- To learn the basis of the classical test theories
- To learn the different psychometric properties that exist
- To identify the psychometric properties of the diverse instruments and to critically evaluate if they are good or they aren't
- To have a general ideal of the test construction process
- To know how to use the different instruments and how to interpret correctly the results
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CB03 - Students must have the ability to bring together and interpret relevant data (normally within their area of study) in order to issue judgements that include a reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific and ethical nature.
- CE03 - The ability to make adequate decisions about what Psychology-specific methods and measuring instruments to use in each situation or evaluation context.
- CE11 - The ability to describe the steps necessary for creating a test, identify the psychometric properties of existing tests and assess whether or not they are suitable for use.
- CG08 - The capacity to interpret the content and scope of the information received or requested, orally or in writing, and process it appropriately according to the nature of the matter at hand.
- CT08 - The ability to put theoretical knowledge into practice
- CT09 - The ability to communicate adequately, both orally and in writing
Learning outcomes of the subject
- To learn the psychological evaluation process
- To learn the different evaluation techniques and the principal instruments of each of them
- To learn the basis of the classical test theories
- To learn the different psychometric properties that exist
- To identify the psychometric properties of the diverse instruments and to critically evaluate if they are good or they aren't
- To have a general ideal of the test construction process
- To know how to use the different instruments and how to interpret correctly the results
Syllabus
Section 1: Psychometric principles of psychological evaluation (Psychometrics)
- Introduction to psychometrics
- Classical Test Theory
- Construction of a psychometric test
- Reliability
- Validity
- Test instructions and standardization of the results
Section 2: Basics
- History of Psychological Evaluation
- Basic concepts and models
- Psychological evaluation as a scientific process
- Classification of psychological evaluation techniques
Section 3: Techniques
- Observation techniques
- Self-report techniques
- Interview techniques
- Objective techniques
- Subjective techniques
- Projective techniques
Section 4: Applications
- Intelligence assessment
- Aptitudes assessment
- Personality assessment
- Development assessment
- Psychopathology assessment
- Aging assessment
- Neuropsychology assessment
Teaching and learning activities
In person
| TRAINING ACTIVITY | METHODOLOGY |
| Lectures will be the setting in which students will learn and use the terminology and linguistic structures related to the sphere of study, for the purpose of practising and developing oral and written communication skills and becoming familiar with the literature and instruction materials provided to better integrate the curricular content. | Session in which the lecturer presents and explains the course content. This learning methodology allows for the use of audiovisual methodologies that support the content description. Students may interact and actively participate in this session. |
| A non-classroom activity in which students undertake exercises autonomously, without the presence of the lecturer/professor. This is the stage in which most questions arise, but, as the option to immediately ask the question does not exist, students are forced to make an additional effort. | This is where the students consolidate what they have learned through study, the looking up of information, the processing of data and the process of integration. |
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The following will be taken into account for the evaluation of the course:
- Attendance and participation in class (10%). The student may miss a total of 3 classes to qualify for the score.
- Activities and work (20%).
- Evaluation of Block I:
- Psychometry Exam (35%): Test type exam + open questions exam
- Evaluation Blocks II-IV:
- Theoretical test (35%). (Includes PIR questions)
It is ESSENTIAL to pass at least one of the exams in order to take the average. Also, the average between the two examens has to be 5 or above. In case of failing any of the above, the student will have to make up for it in the second call. The average will have to be approved to pass the course.
Second sitting: The student will have the opportunity to recover only the exams that were suspended, but the attendance and the activities cannot be recovered. In case of failing again, the student must repeat the course.
Bibliography and resources
- Moreno Rosset, C. (2005). Evaluación psicológica: Concepto, proceso y aplicación en las áreas del desarrollo y de la inteligencia. Madrid: Sanz y Torres.
- Fernández-Ballesteros, R. (2006). Evaluación psicológica. Conceptos, métodos y estudio de casos. Madrid: Pirámide.
Evaluation period
- E1 11/01/2023 I3 10:00h
- E2 20/06/2023 I2 10:00h