Fall, 2009 Psychological Testing Dr. Rick Froman

MWF 10:00-10:50 Psychology 3203 Office: C314

CTH 302 Section A Phone: 7295

http://myeagle.jbu.edu/index.asp e-mail: rfroman@jbu.edu

Prerequisites

Introductory Psychology (PSY 1013) and Introductory Statistics (PSY 2383) are prerequisites for

this course.

Course Description

An examination of the theory, interpretation, and appropriate use of individual and group tests of

personality, mental ability, aptitude, achievement, and interest.

Required Texts

Gregory, R. J. (2007). Psychological Testing: History, Principles, and Applications (5th

ed.).

Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

American Psychological Association. (1999). Standards for educational and psychological

testing. Washington, DC: Author.

Course Objectives for Students

1. To become aware of the major psychometric methods for measuring psychological variables.

2. To become aware of the major questions investigated in psychometrics.

3. To learn the techniques of test administration and scoring in order to understand the

methodology of psychometrics.

4. To become informed consumers of psychological tests and the results of those tests.

5. To learn to appreciate the proper and prudent interpretation of psychological tests including

limitations of their validity.

6. To learn the skill of constructing reliable and valid tests for use in various settings including

the lab, the clinic and the classroom.

7. To integrate understanding of the assumptions, values and ethics of psychometrics with each

student's personal faith.

8. To meet each student's individual needs in taking the course.

Behavioral Expectations

1. Participants will attend regularly and be on time.

2. Assignments will be turned in on time and returned quickly.

3. Participants will actively participate in class discussions.

4. No one will speak in class in a way that is disruptive of the learning atmosphere.

5. Ideas may be challenged but no one will be made to feel as if their contributions to the

discussion are not welcome.

6. Participants will do all of their own work on all papers and quizzes. All references to the work

of others will be properly cited.

Office Hours

My office hours are MWF 9:00 and 1:00 and TT 9:00 and 4:00. If you see me in my office,

please feel free to come in. You are welcome to come by at any time.

Procedures

In order to meet the objectives, a number of methods will be used. Some of the material will be

presented by the instructor but much of the learning will depend on student-led class discussions.

There will be no large tests but there will be frequent small Blackboard quizzes. There will also

be two written reports required which will both be presented orally in class. One report will be a

review of a psychometric instrument of the student's choice and the second will be a written

report of an attempt to construct a valid and reliable measure of a psychological concept of the

student's choice. There will be a student-led discussion, with a partner, of an application of

testing. There will also be a statistics application assignment involving the use of statistical

concepts in psychometric applications.

Requirements

Attendance is expected and will be recorded but will have no direct effect on grades unless half

or more of the class meetings are missed which, by college policy, will result in an F for the

course. The registrar will be given a report of anyone missing two weeks of class (six class

periods in a row).

There will be regular Blackboard quizzes throughout the semester. All quizzes will cover the

book and the class discussion of the book. Quizzes will consist of five multiple-choice items and

can be accessed in the Assignments section of the class Blackboard website. The quizzes must be

completed by class time on the next period after the material is covered in class (e.g., if we finish

discussion of a topic on Wednesday, the quiz over that topic must be taken before class time on

Friday). The statistical review assignment will involve doing a psychometric analysis of test

results in an Excel spreadsheet.

The test critique project will require students to choose a psychological measure and critique it

using criteria learned in the class. The test development project will require students to develop

a test from conception to completion (although sample sizes, etc. will not be as large as they

would be in the real world). Both projects will culminate in oral reports to the class. Although

the oral reports will not be graded, failing to make an oral presentation will result in a zero for

the written assignments. Students will also, with a partner, lead a discussion of an application of

testing to be presented during a class period in the last part of the semester. This will be graded

based on the planned outline of the discussion (including suggested quiz questions) turned in

before the discussion begins and a reflection paper on the discussion afterwards. All papers must

be printed and double-spaced.

Statement on Academic Integrity

As a Christian institution of higher education, John Brown University seeks to maintain the

highest standards of academic integrity. Violations of these standards will result in substantial

penalties. At a minimum, any instance of cheating or plagiarism will result in a zero for the

assignment and a report submitted to the academic dean. Further infractions will result in failure

of the course and possible suspension. For additional information and examples, refer to the

Academic Integrity section on pages 4-5 of your Student Handbook.

Statement on Academic Expectations

John Brown University is a selective academic institution that consistently ranks among the top

ten southern baccalaureate universities. As a student here, you are expected to devote significant

time and effort to your academic courses and to be aware of the effort you will require to perform

up to your expectations in this class. This course has been designed with the expectation that

students will spend adequate time and effort in preparation for each class meeting by doing

assigned readings and assignments and will spend adequate time and effort completing each

assignment.

The Blackboard Supplement

From the EagleNet homepage (http://myeagle.jbu.edu/index.asp), click on “Login to

myEagleNet”. (If you are logging on from off-campus and are asked for a User Name or

Password during this process, use your JBU network user name and password.) Then click on

My Blackboard. You will be automatically logged into Blackboard. When you have logged on to

Blackboard, investigate the site by clicking on each of the buttons to the left of the page. You

will take quizzes on this site and you can also track your grade and find details of the

assignments on the site. Contact me if you have any questions about using the site.

Policy on Students with Disabilities

Students with documented disabilities who need academic accommodations should make an

appointment with the Director of Student Support Services (238-8770) to begin the

accommodation process. They also are encouraged to make an appointment with the instructor as

soon as possible. Students without documented disabilities who feel they may have difficulty

with this course are also encouraged to make an appointment with the instructor to discuss what

steps need to be taken to be successful.

Evaluations

23 Blackboard Quizzes 100 points (@ 5 pts each-drop the lowest three)

Discussion Outline 50 points

Stat Review Assignment 50 points

Test Critique 100 points

Test Development 100 points

TOTAL 400 points

Grade Percent Points

A 90% 360

A- 87% 348

B+ 83% 332

B 80% 320

B- 77% 308

C+ 73% 292

C 70% 280

C- 67% 268

D+ 63% 252

D 60% 240

F Below 60% 239

Course Outline

INTRODUCTION TO CLASS Aug 26

The Nature and Uses of Psychological Testing 1A Aug 28, 31

Ethical and Social Implications of Testing 1B Sep 2, 4

The Origins of Psychological Testing 2A Sep 9

Early Testing in the United States 2B Sep 11

Norms and Test Standardization 3A Sep 14

Concepts of Reliability 3B Sep 16, 18, 21

DISCUSSION OF TEST CRITIQUE Sep 23

Basic Concepts of Validity 4A Sep 25, 28, 30

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN TESTING Oct 2

Test Construction 4B Oct 5, 7

Theories of Intelligence and Factor Analysis 5A Oct 9, 12

DEMONSTRATION OF WAIS Oct 14*

Individual Tests of Intelligence and Achievement 5B Oct 16, 21

Group Tests of Ability and Related Concepts 6A Oct 23

Test Bias and Other Controversies 6B Oct 26, 28

DISCUSSION OF TEST PROJECT Oct 30**

PRESENTATION OF TEST CRITIQUES Nov 2, 4***

Infant and Preschool Assessment 7A Nov 6

Theories and Measurement of Personality 8A Nov 9, 11

DEMONSTRATION OF PROJECTIVES Nov 13

Testing Persons with Disabilities 7B Nov 16****

+Behavioral and Observational Assessment 9B Nov 18

+Self-report Inventories 9A Nov 20

+Projective Techniques 8B Nov 23

+Neuropsychological Tests, Batteries and Screening Tools 10B (10A optional background) Nov 30*****

+Industrial and Organizational Assessment 11A Dec 2

+Forensic Applications of Assessment 11B Dec 4

Psychological Testing and the Law 12A Dec 7

Computerized Assessment and the Future of Testing 12B Dec 9, 11

PRESENTATION OF TEST PROJECTS 8:00-10:00 am, Tuesday Dec 17

Final exam policy

Students must present their final project at the specified time. The only exceptions are death or serious illness of a

member of the student's immediate family, or illness of the student as documented by a medical professional. Any

exception to the final exam policy must be approved by Becky Lambert, Associate Dean of Academic Services.

Date: Dates underlined and in boldface are dates by which online quizzes must be completed by class time. The last

quiz must be completed by the time of the presentation of projects during finals week. Discussion outlines and quiz items are due before leading the discussion and reflection papers are due one week after the discussion.

+ Topics available for in-class presentations

* Statistical Application Assignment due

** Topic of test development due

*** First draft of test critique due

**** Final draft of test critique due

***** First draft of test development due