PSY 425: Tests and Measures

Course Description

What does it mean to be "intelligent," "depressed," or "extraverted?" Ultimately, to understand any modern-day construct one must begin with the methods used to assess it. The purpose of this course is to highlight the assessment tools used by psychologists in a variety of settings. We will review how these tests were constructed, how they are administered, scored, and interpreted (with in-class demonstrations). The emphasis will be on a thorough understanding of the limitations of tests, the need for standardization, validity, and reliability. We will focus on one of the more controversial applications of assessment: Intelligence testing. The uses and misuses of intelligence tests will be emphasized. Finally, special topics such as ethical concerns, testing with special populations, and the utility of assessment in treatment will also be addressed.

It is expected that you have passed PSY 225 (statistics) before taking this class.