COURSE:                 Psych. 335 Psychological Testing

 

                                    CRN 11291                 3 cr                              Fall ‘07

                                               

TIME/PLACE:           Tu, Th              4:00-5:15                     AMH 211

 

INSTRUCTOR:         Dr. Tom Hogan, Professor of Psychology

                                    Office: AMH 223, Tel: Office 941-4268

                                    e-mail Thomas.Hogan@Scranton.edu

                                    Office hours: Tu, Th 2:30-3:30 PM, Wed 10-11 AM

                                    Other times by arrangement.

 

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

   Text: Hogan, T. P. (2007).  Psychological testing: A practical introduction (2nd ed.).                    New York: Wiley.

 

TESTS, ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING:

            There will be 15 quizzes.  Quizzes contain 12-15 multiple-choice items based on a chapter just completed. The two lowest quiz grades will be dropped (except Q16).  Scores are recorded in Angel.

            The major written assignment is completion of a formal test review.  Procedures for completing this assignment will be covered in class.  There are 10 mini-assignments based directly on exercises built into the textbook.  These are graded acceptable/unacceptable. The course schedule lists these assignments. Each is due the class after it is assigned.  No e-mail submission of these assignments will be accepted.

            Weights for the final grade are:

            Sum of best 13 quizzes                         70%

            Test review                                                       15%

            10 Assignments                                                15%

 

Students will take a number of psychological tests throughout the term in order to help develop sensitivity to issues of test administration and interpretation.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

            According to the catalog, Psych. 335 “Provides a thorough grounding in principles of psychological testing and a review of the major types of assessment, including intellectual, personality, and interest.” 

            The beginning of each chapter in the text contains more specific objectives.  In addition, the list of Key Terms at the end of each chapter will aid your learning.

            Students often ask: How well does the textbook correspond to what the instructor expects us to learn?  For this course, the answer is very simple: Almost exactly.  I prepared this textbook specifically for my students.  Thus, what I want you to learn is in the text, except for material specifically identified for exclusion.  You should read the text diligently.

 

 

 

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY:

 

            See the University's policy on academic honesty.  A student found cheating or engaging in another form of academic dishonesty will receive an F for the assignment/test.

 

REVISIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

            The syllabus is subject to revision. Any revisions will be announced in class. Note also that you will sometimes receive e-mail announcements through Angel. Make sure you check your University e-mail account.

 

ON BEING SUCCESSFUL: CLASS ATTENDANCE, PROCEDURES, STUDY

 

1. It is doubtful that you can do well in this course without regular attendance in class.

 

2. You are responsible for knowing all announcements made in class, including those related to any changes in the attached schedule.

 

3. Classes will begin and end promptly. Suitable attire and civil behavior are expected in class.

 

4. Note carefully the structure of the course, as indicated in the catalog description and the attached course schedule.  Roughly the first half of the course covers principles; the second half examines specific tests.  This division has important implications for how the course proceeds and how you need to study.  In the first half of the course, there are about 30-40 important concepts organized under about five major headings.  In this part of the course, you’ll need to study the text carefully and listen attentively to lectures. In contrast, in the second half of the course, where we’re examining examples of tests, we’ll be moving rapidly across many different areas.  After the rigors of the first part of the course, you’ll have a tendency to check out in the second half because it will seem so easy.  Watch out for this tendency.

 

5. An introductory course in statistics is a real pre-requisite. If you haven’t had a course in statistics you probably can’t succeed in this course.  If your knowledge of statistics is rusty, then do some review on your own.  However, Psych Testing is not a statistics course; we use statistics only to the extent necessary to develop certain topics.

 

6. To prepare for a quiz, read the chapter carefully and pay particular attention to points emphasized in class. 

 

7. Detailed directions for completing the test review and the mini-assignments will be given in class.  Completion of the test review is carefully coordinated with chapters 1-6.


COURSE SCHEDULE Psych 335 Fall ‘07

                                                                                                                                               

Tu        Aug28              Review of syllabus. Ch. 1 Intro                          T15, E4, E5

Th        Aug 30             Finish Ch 1.  Distribute LASSI                           LASSI (due Spt 4)                                

 

Tu        Spt  4    Q 1       Ch. 2 Sources of Info.                                       E1, E2b

Th        Spt  6    Q 2       Ch 3 Norms                                                     Watson-Glaser (due S.11)

                                                           

Tu        Spt 11               Ch 3 Norms                                                      T82, 86, E4, E5

Th        Spt 13   Q 3       Ch 4 Reliability

 

Tu        Spt 18               Ch 4                                                                 T117, 135, 139, 140       

Th        Spt 20   Q 4       Ch 5 Validity                                                     NEO-PI (due Sept 25)

 

Tu        Spt 25               Ch 5                                                                 T171, 177, E1, E4a&b

Th        Spt 27   Q 5       Ch 6 Test Development                                    

 

Tu        Oct  2               Ch 6                                                                 T208, 209, E7

Th        Oct  4   Q 6       Ch 7 Theories of Intelligence

 

Tu        Oct   9              Ch 7     & Test Review Procedure                     Start test review

Th        Oct 11  Q 7       Ch 8 Ind Intelligence Tests                                                                                            

 

Tu        Oct 16              FALL BREAK

Th        Oct 18              Ch 8

 

Tu        Oct 23  Q 8       Ch 9 Group Intelligence Tests                                                   

Th        Oct 25              Ch 9                                                                

 

Tu        Oct 30  Q 9       Ch 10 Neuro                                                     Test review due         

Th        Nov 1               Ch 11 Achievement Tests

 

Tu        Nov 6   Q 10/11Ch 12 Objective Personality Tests                      T456, 457, E1, E7                     

Th        Nov 8               Ch 12                                                               Strong (due Nov 13)     

 

Tu        Nov 13 Q 12     Ch 13 Clinical Instruments                                

Th        Nov 15             Ch 13                                                               T486, 504, E1, E2

 

Tu        Nov 20 Q 13     Ch 14 Projectives                                              T538, E1 or E3 

Th        Nov 22             THANKSGIVING

 

Tu        Nov 27            Ch 14 & Ch 15                                                 

Th        Nov 29 Q 14     Ch 15                                                               T570, 575, E1

 

Tu        Dec 4               Ch 16   Ethical & Legal Issues  

Th        Dec 6               Ch 16                          

 

Tu        Dec 11             FINALS BEGIN.  Quizzes on 15 & 16 on date for final

 

* Numbers next to Q indicate chapter numbers.