Syllabus for

                                               PSY 323--Psychological Measurement

3 credit hours

                                                                     Spring 2010

1I.       COURSE DESCRIPTION

A study of the theory of psychological measurement.  Includes a survey of individual and group tests used to measure general abilities, aptitudes, interests, and personality characteristics.

Prerequisites: PSY 201and MAT 232

II.      COURSE GOALS

         This course is designed to help the students do the following:

A.     Develop a professional attitude based on a proper understanding of the historical development, selection, use, interpretation, and ethics of psychological assessment.

B.      Explore the theory and practice of appropriate and ethical testing.  Proper testing procedures will be traced through all stages.

C.      Be equipped with the basic tools of psychological assessment.

D.     Become familiarized with the format, basis, and rationale of the major psychological tests is also a goal of the course.

E.      Be introduced to sources of test materials and information.

III.    STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THIS COURSE

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to do the following:

A.     Dictate the historical development of psychological testing.

B.      List the basic steps in test administration.

C.      Demonstrate correct principles of test interpretation.

D.     List and discuss appropriate ethical principles of testing.

E.      List, describe, and evaluate widely used psychological tests.

F.      Explain how to use at least two major sources of test information.

G.     Write a comprehensive psychological analysis of self based on clinical assessment tools and methodology.

IV.    TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER LEARNING RESOURCES

         Required Materials

         Textbook

Kaplan, R & Saccuzzo, D. (2005)  Psychological testing: Principles, application, and issues. (6^th Ed.), Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

V.     POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

A.           University Policies and Procedures

1.            Attendance at each class or laboratory is mandatory at Oral Roberts University. Excessive absences can reduce a student’s grade or deny credit for the course.

2.            Students taking a late exam because of an unauthorized absence are charged a late exam fee.

3.            Students and faculty at Oral Roberts University must adhere to all laws addressing the ethical use of others’ materials, whether it is in the form of print, video, multimedia, or computer software.  By submitting an assignment in any form, the student gives permission for the assignment to be checked for plagiarism, either by submitting the work for electronic verification or by other means.

4.            Final exams cannot be given before their scheduled times.  Students need to check the final exam schedule before planning return flights or other events at the end of the semester.

5.            Students are to be in compliance with University, school, and departmental policies regarding ePortfolio requirements.  Students should consult the ePortfolio handbooks for requirements regarding general education and the students’ majors.

a.      The penalty for not submitting electronically or for incorrectly  submitting an ePortfolio artifact is a zero for that assignment.

b.      By submitting an assignment, the student gives permission for the assignment to be assessed electronically.

B.           Department Policies and Procedures

Policies and procedures for submitting artifacts can be found in the General Education ePortfolio Handbook and the departmental handbook for the student’s major.

C.           Course Policies and Procedures

1.            Evaluation Procedures

a.             Examinations—Three unit exams (100 points each) for a total of 300 points

b.             One comprehensive final exam (100 points)  

c.             Writing Assignment--In an attempt to better understand and take responsibility for the potential God has placed within each student, each is to self-administer a battery of tests and interpret the results.  The required core tests are mentioned in class.  After scoring each test, students should write a psychological evaluation of self comparing and contrasting the results to better identify the person God has created them to be.  The project is worth 100 points.

d.            Participation – The nature of this course requires considerable interaction with testing materials during class time. Several class activities based on the testing materials will be conducted throughout the course. Students’ appropriate participation in such activities will determine points earned at instructor’s discretion (total possible of 50 points).

2.            ePortfolio Requirements:  None

3.            Other Policies and/or Procedures

a.             Contemporaneity--All material presented in fulfillment of course requirements must be initiated and completed during the semester the course is offered.  Papers prepared in other semesters and for other courses are not accepted for this course.

b.            Exclusiveness--All course requirements are designed for this course alone and are to be submitted only for this course.  Likewise, assignments carried out for other courses during this semester are not accepted for this course.

c.             Under no circumstances is any material, score sheets, or test interpretations to be used by the student for any purpose other than for educational experiences involved in this course.  There are severe penalties for misuse of materials.

d.            Punctuality--Deadlines for submitted course assignments are printed in this syllabus in order that the students may budget time and submit each assignment on or before the deadline. The instructor reserves the right to refuse to accept material submitted late.

e.             Changes--Class attendance is considered an essential component of the requirements of this course.  Therefore, any changes in syllabi, assignments, exams, or class requirements announced in class by the instructor are considered to constitute adequate and sufficient notice.  It is each student’s responsibility to be aware of any such changes and to contact the instructor if unsure of what is expected.

f.             Assignments and Papers

(1)               All assignments and papers are due at the beginning of class the day the assignment and/or papers are due.

(2)               Unless specified by the instructor, all assignments and papers must be typed. 

(3)               Spelling, grammar, and neatness count towards the final grade.

(4)               The official guide for all papers in the Department of Behavioral Sciences is the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5^th ed. 2001.

(5)               Late assignments and papers receive point deductions. Because course requirements are assigned in advance, excused extensions are extremely rare.

(6)               Plagiarized work receives no points for the assignment/paper and no makeup opportunities.  To avoid having work suspected of plagiarism, make sure the sources of information and opinion are documented and acknowledged.

g.             Excused Makeup Exams

(1)               No points or fees are deducted for Administrative Excuses.  These must be typed, signed by the appropriate staff in Dr. Fagin's office, and presented to the instructor no later than one day before which the exam is to be given.

(2)               Because exams are announced in advance, excused makeup exams are extremely rare. Should an emergency occur, notify the professor before the time of the exam.

(3)               As physician appointments can be scheduled around exams, only bona fide emergency visits, properly documented (signed excuse), are acceptable.  No points or fees are deducted for an excused emergency.  The form used by the school nurse is not acceptable.

(4)               Arrangements must be made to take the excused makeup exam within one week of the originally scheduled exam.  Requests to arrange to take an excused makeup exam must be submitted in typed form, dated and given to the instructor no later than one week before the scheduled exam.

h.            Late Exams

(1)               No show--no points.

(2)               The student must notify the instructor no later than within the week before the exam is to be given. Failure to do so constitutes a "no show."

(3)               The student must pay the late fee of $10 before the exam is given.  No exam is given without proof of fee payment.

(4)               Arrangements must be made to take the makeup exam within one week of the originally scheduled exam.  Requests to arrange to take a late exam must be submitted in typed form and dated.

(5)               The student automatically loses 10% of the total possible points as a late exam penalty.

i.              Cheating

(1)               Blatant—the student receives no points for the exam and no makeup.

(2)               Suspected (i.e., reported by classmate or proctor)—the student takes a makeup exam.  The procedure for the makeup exam follows that of a late exam (as above).  If refused, the student receives no points for the exam.

(3)               All appeals to the contrary must be typed and copies given to both Dr. Feller and the instructor within the week.

j.              Office Hours

(1)               Office hours are posted on instructor's door and given in class.

(2)               If students cannot make the posted hours they should see instructor after class or leave a message (with a phone number and/or box number and times available).

(3)               If the instructor's door is closed students should check first with the secretary before knocking.  The student should respect the confidentiality of others that is requested by the closed door.

k.      Attendance is mandatory in all classes.  Habitually arriving late to a class is a sign of disrespect to the instructor and class members alike and should be avoided.  If scheduling makes it impossible for the student to arrive on time on a regular basis, that student should inform the instructor. 

VI.    COURSE CALENDAR

*Dates of exams and topics covered may vary with the needs of each individual class.  Such changes will be discussed during regular class meetings.

Course Inventory for ORU’s Student Learning Outcomes

PSY 323 Psychological Measurement

Spring 2010

This course contributes to the ORU student learning outcomes as indicated below:

Significant Contribution – Addresses the outcome directly and includes targeted assessment.

Moderate Contribution – Addresses the outcome directly or indirectly and includes some assessment.

Minimal Contribution – Addresses the outcome indirectly and includes little or no assessment.

No Contribution – Does not address the outcome.

The Student Learning Glossary at http://ir.oru.edu/doc/glossary.pdf  defines each outcome and each of the proficiencies/capacities.