COURSE:                  Psych. 335 Psychological Testing

 

                                    CRN 10947                 3 cr                              Fall ‘03

                                               

TIME/PLACE:           Tu, Th              8:30-9:45                     Hyl 102

 

INSTRUCTOR:         Dr. Tom Hogan, Professor of Psychology

                                    Office: AMH 223, Tel: Office 941-4268

                                    e-mail hogant1@uofs.edu

                                    Office hours: Tu, Th 3:30-4:30, Wed 10:00-11:00

                                    Other times by arrangement.

 

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

   Text: Hogan, T. P. (2003).  Psychological testing: A practical introduction.  New York: Wiley.

 

TESTS, ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING:

 

            There will be 11 brief quizzes and 3 regular exams.  The brief quizzes are designed to make sure you read the material in a chapter or section before we treat that material in class.  The quizzes require general familiarity with the material, not in-depth knowledge.  The regular exams, on the other hand, will require in-depth knowledge of the material. The attached schedule lists dates for all quizzes and exams.  Quizzes are all multiple-choice: 10 items per quiz.  The 3 exams will be a combination of multiple-choice questions and essays. Make-up exams will be given only in documented emergency cases; the nature of the make-up exam is at the discretion of the instructor.

            There are 12 assignments to be completed from exercises in the textbook.  The list of these assignments and their due dates is given on an attached sheet.  There will be occasional bonus assignments.  There is one major written paper: a test review.  Structure for this assignment and due date for final submission are listed on an attached sheet. Final grades will be determined as follows:

            Sum of best 10 quizzes                                     35%

            Exams 1, 2, 3                                                   45%

            Test review (1/3 on draft)                                 20%

Students are encouraged, but not required, to 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.  You should read it diligently. That will allow time for us to discuss matters and do demonstrations in class.

 

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 course.

 

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 is devoted to principles; the second half is devoted to examination of 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. We’ll have some guest speakers.  You’re responsible for knowing whatever they cover.

 

7. To prepare for the quizzes, you should read the relevant chapters lightly and make your own outline of major topics.  In addition, I will give a brief overview of the important points in the chapter before you read it.  The questions in the quizzes will verify that you have done the minimal preparation for our more in-depth treatment of each topic.  Thus the questions on the quizzes should be fairly easy; they provide a good way for you to build up your grade.

 

8. The exams will be standard periodic-length tests, with multiple-choice and short essay items.

 

9. The periodic assignments will help reinforce material we are covering in class.  They are not due until we have partially completed a chapter.  However, you may find it advantageous to complete them as you prepare for the quizzes.

 

10. Regular assignments: Submit on 1 page with name and chapter in upper right corner. Graded S/U. If late, automatic U.  One percentage point reduction in next test grade for any U’s.  Bonus items: Submit on 1 page with name, chapter, AND BONUS in upper right corner. Add one percentage point to next test grade, assuming S grade. Copying another student’s work on these assignments will be considered academic dishonesty.


COURSE SCHEDULE Psych 335 Fall ‘03

                                                                                                                                                Assignments Due

Tu        Aug26              Review of syllabus. Ch. 1 Intro             

Th        Aug28  No Q    Ch. 1 cont.                                                        1: T16, 40, E 12, 14       

 

Tu        Spt  2    No Q    Ch. 2 Sources of Info

Th        Spt  4    Q 3*     Ch. 3 Test Norms                                              2: E1 // E2b (B)

 

Tu        Spt  9                Ch 3 cont                                                          3: T90, 94, 95, 99, 104, E5, 6

Th        Spt11    Q 4       Ch 4 Reliability

 

Tu        Spt16                Ch 4 cont                                                          4: T129, 147, 151, 152

Th        Spt18                EXAM 1 Chs 1-4

 

Tu        Spt23    Q 5       Ch 5: Validity

Th        Spt25                Ch 5 cont.                                                         5: T187, 190, 193, 203, E1, 2 //E4 (B)

 

Tu        Spt30    Q 6       Ch 6 Test Development

Th        Oct  2               Ch 6 cont                                                          6: T226, 227, 250, E3, 11 // E17 (B)

 

Tu        Oct  7   Q 7       Ch 7 Theories of Intelligence

Th        Oct  9               Ch 7 cont & App A: Test Reviewing                  7: T299, E1, 2, 4// E 7&8 (B)

                                                                                                            Start Test Review

Tu        Oct14               FALL BREAK

Th        Oct16   Q 8       Ch 8: Individual Tests

 

Tu        Oct21               Ch 8 cont                                                          8: T317, 324, 338, 353, E9// E7 (B)

Th        Oct23   Q 9       Ch 9: Group Tests

 

Tu        Oct28               Ch 9 cont                                                          9: T370, 374, 387, 388, E10 // E9 (B)

Th        Oct30               EXAM 2 Chs 5-9

 

Tu        Nov  4  Q 10     Ch 10 Neuro

Th        Nov  6              Ch 10 cont                                                        10: T428, E4; Review Draft Due

 

Tu        Nov11 Q 11      Ch 11 Achievement Tests                                 

Th        Nov13              Ch 11 cont                                                        11: T451, 458, E3, E4 // E8 (B)

 

Tu        Nov18  Q 12     Ch 12 Objective Personality Tests

Th        Nov20              Ch 12 cont                                                        12: T483,491,492,505,511,519//E2&3(B)

 

Tu        Nov25  Q 13     Ch 13 Projectives

Th        Nov27              THANKSGIVING

 

Tu        Dec  2 No Q     Ch 14 Interest & Attitude Measures                   13: T539,545,E3//E1 (B) Review Due

Th        Dec  4 No Q     Ch 16 Ethical & Legal Issues                             16 T625, 630, 642

 

Tu        Dec 9               FINALS BEGIN EXAM 3 (Ch 10-14,16) on date for final

 

* Number next to Q indicates chapter number.