Measurement in Psychology and principles of psychological testing. Test use: administration, scoring, and norms. Psychometric properties (reliability and validity). Psychological testing as a core competency of a psychologist’s professional practice.
Course Content - Last names L-Z
Measurement in Psychology and principles of psychological testing. Test use: administration, scoring, and norms. Psychometric properties (reliability and validity). Psychological testing as a core competency of a psychologist’s professional practice.
Handbook: Picone, Pezzuti & Ribaudo (2017). Teorie e tecniche dei test. Uso e interpretazione. Carocci Editore (Cap. 1-8).
Didactical materials: Slides and handouts provided electronically through the e-learning Moodle platform.
Learning Objectives - Last names A-K
Knowledge and understanding
The course aims to introduce students to the basics of psychological assessment. Students who attend this course fruitfully and productively will know (i) the psychological test characteristics and properties (ii) standards and guidelines for the use of psychological tests, (iii) the main features of some widely used psychological tests.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will gain the knowledge needed for evaluating the properties of a psychological test. Additionally, good practices of test administration will be acquired. As such, they will be able to understand the practical relevance of test theory and techniques, and they will be encouraged to use the principles of psychological measurement to generate targeted and concrete solutions.
Making judgments
This course aims to help students in developing a critical understanding psychological testing. As such, students who attend fruitfully and productively the course will be able to evaluate autonomously assumptions and methods underlying the psychological assessment, in general and in a variety of applications. Thus, they will be able to transfer the acquired knowledge to novel contexts and situations.
Communication skills
The course aim at promoting communication abilities making students able to explain clearly and appropriately key issues, concepts, and procedures. At the same time, they will acquire the ability to check the listener’s understanding, and to modify their communication strategies accordingly.
Learning skills
The course will help the acquisition of new knowledge and abilities driving students to be active learners. Thus, acquired knowledge and skills will be preliminary to the study of more advanced topics of test theory and psychometric methods.
Learning Objectives - Last names L-Z
Knowledge and understanding
The course aims to introduce students to the basics of psychological assessment. Students who attend this course fruitfully and productively will know (i) the psychological test characteristics and properties (ii) standards and guidelines for the use of psychological tests, (iii) the main features of some widely used psychological tests.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will gain the knowledge needed for evaluating the properties of a psychological test. Additionally, good practices of test administration will be acquired. As such, they will be able to understand the practical relevance of test theory and techniques, and they will be encouraged to use the principles of psychological measurement to generate targeted and concrete solutions.
Making judgments
This course aims to help students in developing a critical understanding psychological testing. As such, students who attend fruitfully and productively the course will be able to evaluate autonomously assumptions and methods underlying the psychological assessment, in general and in a variety of applications. Thus, they will be able to transfer the acquired knowledge to novel contexts and situations.
Communication skills
The course aim at promoting communication abilities making students able to explain clearly and appropriately key issues, concepts, and procedures. At the same time, they will acquire the ability to check the listener’s understanding, and to modify their communication strategies accordingly.
Learning skills
The course will help the acquisition of new knowledge and abilities driving students to be active learners. Thus, acquired knowledge and skills will be preliminary to the study of more advanced topics of test theory and psychometric methods.
Prerequisites - Last names A-K
Having passed the exams of propaedeutic courses.
Prerequisites - Last names L-Z
Having passed the exams of propaedeutic courses.
Teaching Methods - Last names A-K
Knowledge and understanding
Lectures in presence or streaming that are registered and loaded on the e-learning Moodle platform. Exercises with feedback implemented in the Moodle e-learning platform to help students to monitor their learning during the course. Interactive activities using a cloud-based application that allows interacting with students in real-time by setting questions and asking students to give their input using a mobile phone or any other online device.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Exercises and laboratory activities on test administration, scoring, norms, and interpretation. These activities will be implemented on Moodle e-learning platform.
Making judgments
Exercises and laboratory activities will be followed by a critical discussion on the psychological assessment and test characteristics and properties. Moreover, psychometric analyses on real data will be performed and discussed.
Communication skills
Written communication will be improved teaching students to write correct, clear, and concise reports on testing definitions, characteristics, and properties. Moreover, they will be able to describe procedures, discuss and compare results, and explain the reasoning behind the exercise. Finally, oral communication skills will be specifically linked to the administration procedures adopted by the test user.
Learning skills
Students will be encouraged to adopt methods and strategies for an active and deep learning. Specifically, they will be asked to engage in activities that enable them to critically evaluate and review their own level of performance.
Teaching Methods - Last names L-Z
Knowledge and understanding
Lectures in presence or streaming that are registered and loaded on the e-learning Moodle platform. Exercises with feedback implemented in the Moodle e-learning platform to help students to monitor their learning during the course. Interactive activities using a cloud-based application that allows interacting with students in real-time by setting questions and asking students to give their input using a mobile phone or any other online device.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Exercises and laboratory activities on test administration, scoring, norms, and interpretation. These activities will be implemented on Moodle e-learning platform.
Making judgments
Exercises and laboratory activities will be followed by a critical discussion on the psychological assessment and test characteristics and properties. Moreover, psychometric analyses on real data will be performed and discussed.
Communication skills
Written communication will be improved teaching students to write correct, clear, and concise reports on testing definitions, characteristics, and properties. Moreover, they will be able to describe procedures, discuss and compare results, and explain the reasoning behind the exercise. Finally, oral communication skills will be specifically linked to the administration procedures adopted by the test user.
Learning skills
Students will be encouraged to adopt methods and strategies for an active and deep learning. Specifically, they will be asked to engage in activities that enable them to critically evaluate and review their own level of performance.
Knowledge and understanding
Written exam (open-ended questions).
Applying knowledge and understanding
Tasks requiring the use of tests (administration, scoring, application of test norms, interpretation).
Making judgments
Tasks requiring to critically discuss the results of a test administration, and to make judgements about the characteristics and psychometric properties of a test.
Communication skills
Written and oral tasks.
Learning skills
Exercises that allow verifying the achieved level of performance and to provide inputs for improving learning autonomously.
Type of Assessment - Last names L-Z
Knowledge and understanding
Written exam (open-ended questions).
Applying knowledge and understanding
Tasks requiring the use of tests (administration, scoring, application of test norms, interpretation).
Making judgments
Tasks requiring to critically discuss the results of a test administration, and to make judgements about the characteristics and psychometric properties of a test.
Communication skills
Written and oral tasks.
Learning skills
Exercises that allow verifying the achieved level of performance and to provide inputs for improving learning autonomously.
Course program - Last names A-K
- Psychological measurement
Psychological constructs: conceptual and operational definitions
Latent and manifest variables
- Testing
Areas of application
Cognitive and non-cognitive tests
Item characteristics
Test administration procedures
Scoring
Standardization (z-scores and percentiles)
Norming
Interpretation
Test batteries and short forms
Standards and guidelines for psychologists on test use
- Psychometric Properties
Reliability: temporal stability (test-retest) and internal consistency
Content, construct and criterion-related validity.
Course program - Last names L-Z
- Psychological measurement
Psychological constructs: conceptual and operational definitions
Latent and manifest variables
- Testing
Areas of application
Cognitive and non-cognitive tests
Item characteristics
Test administration procedures
Scoring
Standardization (z-scores and percentiles)
Norming
Interpretation
Test batteries and short forms
Standards and guidelines for psychologists on test use
- Psychometric Properties
Reliability: temporal stability (test-retest) and internal consistency
Content, construct and criterion-related validity.