HCMF07: Psychometric Testing

Module Provider:

School of Health and Social Care

Number of credits:

20 [10 ECTS credits]

Level:

M

Terms in which taught:

Module Convenor:

Dr WP Gothard

Pre-requisites:

Co-requisites:

Modules excluded:

Current from:

2005/6

Aims:
To equip trainees with the knowledge and skills to gain British Psychological Society registration as a test user at level A.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module trainees should be able to meet the requirements of the BPS to register as a level A user and be able to use psychometric tests appropriately and effectively in a careers service setting. To do this trainees should be able to:

1. define assessment needs
2. outline the basic principles of scaling and standardization
3. discuss the importance of reliability and validity
4. decide when psychometric tests should or should not be used as part of an assessment process
5. administer tests to one or more candidates and deal with scoring procedures
6. make appropriate use of test results
7. maintain security and confidentiality of the test materials and the test data.

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:
This module takes approximately nine months to complete. Trainees attend a five day residential course. There are pre-course readings and assignments. Following the end of the residential course, trainees complete an assignment for assessment.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
It is anticipated that this module will take 200 hours to complete including 30 hours residential tuition. The residential course follows the guidelines laid down by the BPS and our training partner SHL. This involves structured exercises, feedback sessions and mock examinations.

Contact hours:

Assessment:
Coursework:
At the end of the residential course, each trainee will have formative assessment, take and examination and undergo an assessed test administration session. The post residential assignment consists of a case study (3,000 words) outlining the test chosen for administration, an interpretation of the test results and explanation of the use of the test in the guidance process.
Relative percentage of coursework : 100%
Examinations:
An examination is part of the residential course
Requirements for a pass:
50%.
Reassessment arrangements:
Students will be asked to resubmit the coursework. The re-submission must take place within three months of the request date after discussion with the Programme Director.