Syllabus
CNSL 5305 Psychoeducational Testing and Appraisal
Wayland Baptist University Fairbanks Campus
School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Summer Session: May 26-Aug 9, 2014
MISSION: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learningfocused, and distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God and humankind.
COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: CNSL 5305 PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL TESTING
Instructor:
MICHAEL DUNCAN, PhD
CONTACT INFORMATION:
EMAIL: Michael.duncan@wayland.wbu.edu
PHONE: (210) 410-4971
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment
MEETING LOCATION: DOYON
MEETING DATES & TIMES:
DATES: JUNE 6-7, JUNE 27-28, JULY 25-26 AUG 8-9
HOURS: FRIDAY: 6PM-10PM SATURDAY: 9AM-5P.
Course Credit: 3 hours
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Survey of the various principles, applications, and issues in psychoeducational
testing and appraisal; test development, validity and reliability; basic statistics; interviewing techniques;
intelligence, personality, career, projective and behavior tests and assessments; current laws and regulations
regarding special education, academic interventions, and Individualized Education Programs
PREREQUISITES: Enrolled in MAC graduate program
TEXTBOOK: Psychological Testing: Principles, Applications, and Issues
8th edition by Kaplan & Saccuzzo (Wadsworth Publishing)
STUDENT COPY ISBN: 978-1-133-49201-6
Assessment in Counseling: A Guide to the Use of Psychological Assessment
Procedures
5th Edition by Danica G. Hays
ISBN: 978-1-55620-318-3
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Textbooks are an information source and a means of explaining and stimulating interest in the material. It does
not contain all the information students need to know, however. Additional information, interpretations, and
analyses may be given in class.
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COURSE OBJECTIVES: By the conclusion of the course, successful students will be able to:
1. Know major psychological tests and assessments.
2. Know the various aspects of test development including basic statistical concepts and reliability and
validity.
3. Have a basic understanding of the major types of psychological tests and assessments including
personality, intelligence, and career testing.
4. Learn effective means of interpreting, integrating, and communicating assessment information, both
orally and in written reports, to other professionals and parents.
5. Be familiar with relevant psychological testing issues such as bias, tests and the law, and the future
of testing.
6. Learn basic tips on test administration and interviewing as well as scoring and interpretation.
Attendance and Absences
Campus Attendance Policy: Students enrolled at one of the University’s external campuses should make every
effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine
whether the omitted work may be made up. When a student reaches that number of absences considered by
the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report
with the campus dean. Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings
will receive a grade of F in the course. Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the
instructor in the course syllabus are considered a part of the University’s attendance policy (WBU Catalog,
2005-2006, p. 77).
Instructors Additional Attendance Policies: Attendance is very important to the outcome of your success in this
class. If you are unable to attend a class, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor immediately and to
acquire the notes from another student for the class missed. Attendance will be taken and will be factored into
students' grade. If you miss class, you should notify the instructor (preferably via e-mail) of your status and
reason for missing class.
Notice to Students Experiencing Disabilities:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist
University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university. The
Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as the coordinator of students with a disability and should be
contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 291- 3765. Documentation of a disability must
accompany any request for accommodations.
Academic Honesty
Wayland Baptist University’s policy on academic honesty and/or plagiarism will be strictly adhered to in this
class. Any plagiarized work will be referred to the Dean and may result in an automatic No Pass grade. Please
refer to the Academic Catalog for further information.
Reading: Students will be expected to read the assigned readings prior to the day they are discussed in class.
Attendance & Participation: Students will be expected to be present and to participate and contribute
thoughtfully to the classroom discussions. This requires you to be prepared for class by completing the
reading prior to the day it is discussed in class. You are expected to be attentive and to respect your
classmates’ opinions
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Ethical and Professional Conduct. Counselors-in-training are expected to behave in accordance with the
ACA Ethical Standards and other standards of accepted professional conduct, including attire appropriate to
professional counseling. Special attention is called to standards of confidentiality. Specific Ethical and
Professional Guidelines for School Counselors are also included in the (a) TEA Code of Ethics and (b)
American School Counselor Association Ethical Standards.
Grading
The following grading system will be used throughout the course:
A 100-90%
B 89-80%
C 79-70%
D 69-60%
F below 60%
I incomplete*
W withdrawal
*An incomplete may be given within the last two weeks of a long term or within the last two days of a microterm
to a student who is passing, but has not completed a term paper, examination, or other required work for
reasons beyond the student’s control. A grade of “incomplete” is changed if the work required is completed
prior to the last day of the next long (10 to 15 weeks) term, unless the instructor designates an earlier date for
completion. If the work is not completed by the appropriate date, the I is converted to an F.
Evaluation of student performance:
PAPERS: Each of your three assigned papers will count for 20% of your grade. Your each presentation will
count for 10 % of your grade. Participation will count for 10% of your final grade.
Listed below are the details and the grade breakdown of the assignments:
 Paper # 1: Write a 3-5 page paper explaining /discussing the information in chapters 1-7.
Provide to your reader a clear and concise understanding of the topics. Prove to your reader
that your have a clear understanding of the information covered in the chapter and relate how
these concepts relate to psychological testing.
Presentation #1: Conduct a 10-15 minute presentation to the class discussing Chapters 1-7. Be
prepared to field questions from the instructor and students. Prove to your classmates and
instructor that you have a good understanding of the psychological testing concepts.
Paper # 2: Write a 4-6 page paper explaining/discussing the information you have read in
Chapters 8-18. Provide your reader a clear and concise understanding of the topics. Prove to
your reader that you have a clear understanding of the information covered in each chapter and
relate how these concepts relate to psychological testing.
Presentation # 2: Conduct a 15-20 minute presentation to the class discussing Chapters 8-18.
Be prepared to field questions from your fellow classmates and instructor. Prove to your
classmates and instructor that you have a clear understanding of the topics covered in chapters
8-18.
Paper # 3: Write a 2-3 Pager paper explain/discussing the information you have read in Chapters
19-21. Convince your reader that you have a clear understanding of test bias, legal implications
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associated with testing and ethical considerations. Conclude your paper with a discussion of
the future of psychological testing.
Presentation # 3: Conduct a 10-15 presentation to the class discussing Chapters 19-21. Show to
your class your understanding of the hazards of test bias, how testing and the law relate and
discuss ethical considerations associate with psychological testing. Conclude with a
discussion on the future of psychological testing. Be prepare to answer questions from student
and your instructor. Also, be prepared to process with your class mates an ethical testing
dilemma posed by your instructor.
Date & Time
JUNE 6-7
Content
Introduction of the Course/ Overview of the Syllabus
Read: Chapters 1- 7.
Be prepared to discuss chapters 1-7.
JUNE 27-28
Read: Chapters 8-18
DUE: Paper # 1----- Conduct Presentation # 1.
Be prepared to discuss Chapters 8-18.
JULY 25-26
READ: Chapters 19-21
DUE: Paper # 2------------Conduct Presentation # 2.
Be prepared to discuss Chapters 19-21.
AUG 8-9
DUE: Paper # 3-----------Conduct Presentation # 3.
Professor reserves the right to modify syllabus as needed. Please consult catalog for important deadlines such
as add/drop, withdrawal, etc.
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