Module Code - Title:
EN5320
-
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
To develop the skills, attitude and knowledge required for the selection, administration and feedback of assessment tests appropriate in the practice of guidance counselling.
Syllabus:
Syllabus focuses on development of knowledge and skills in the selection, administration and provision of feedback of relevant assessment tests appropriate in the practice of guidance counselling. Formal and informal assessment; assessment for instructional decision-making, educational guidance, certification and accountability; high-stakes testing; norm-referenced and criterion referenced testing; principal categories and types of tests; group and individual tests of mental ability; achievement testing; personality; tests for choosing careers; test administration; interpreting test scores; reliability, validity and standardisation of tests; testing and professional ethics.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
Identify the principal functions of educational assessment with young people and adults.
Critically and competently examine the beneficial and harmful impact of testing in educational practice.
Demonstrate expertise in the administration, scoring and interpretation of relevant tests.
Develop a range of effective feedback skills in the dissemination of assessment results to young people and adults.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
Demonstrate awareness of appropriate assessment of results and feedback to young people and adults clients to support their development.
Critically scrutinise the ethical issues involved in the employment and administration of assessment tools, including data protection legislation, as part of the guidance counselling process.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
Lectures, group work, critique of tests, report writing and feedback skills.
Development of reflective practice through administration of assessments and critical insight into use of quantitative and qualitative paradigms for assessment purposes
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Maltby, J., Day, L. & Macaskill, A. (2013)
Personality, Individual Differences, and Testing
, Pearson: Harlow
Frederickson, N. and Cline T. (2008)
Special Educational Needs, Inclusion and Diversity, 2nd ed.
, Maidenhead: OUP.
Murphy, K. Davidshofer, C (2005)
Psychological Testing, Principles and Applications 6th Ed.
, N.Y.: Prentice Hall
Gage, N.L. & Berliner, D.C. (1992)
Educational Psychology 5th ed.
, Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Coaley, K. (2014)
An Introduction to Psychological Assessment and Procedures
, London: Sage.
Kline, P. (2000)
A Psychometric Primer
, London: Free Association
Other Relevant Texts:
Institute of Guidance Counsellors (2012)
Constitution and Code of Ethics
, Dublin: IGC
Woolfolk, A. (2016) (2016)
Educational Psychology, 13th ed.
, Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Summer
Module Leader:
diarmuid.verrier@ul.ie