Title of Course Unit
Teacher
Faculty & department
Semester
Total Working Hours
ECTS Credits
Language of Teaching
Mandatory / Optional
Course Description
Essentials of Psychological Testing
Assoc. prof. D.Nasvytiene
Faculty of Educology, Department of Didactics of Psychology
Autumn / Winter
134 (32 contact hours, 102 hours of independent study)
5
English
Optional
Study outcomes
1. Knowledge and understanding of testing as a quantitative method of psychological
assessment including comprehension of testing as standardized procedure, test
classification criteria (aim of testing, administration mode, level of test user’s
competence, level of stimuli structure).
2. Ability to evaluate test on the basis of its psychometric characteristics.
3. Ability to construct testing scale/questionnaire of cognitive function.
4. Ability to practically apply SDQ (administer, calculate and interpret results of
Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire).
5. Ability to recognize the signs of ethical and unethical testing.
Themes:
1. Relation between psychological testing with other methods of psychological
assessment (observation, interview, non-formal procedures of assessment).
Ratio between psychological testing and psychological assessment.
2. Definition of tests, their classification, goals of testing. Main groups of tests.
Screening and monitoring tests. Checklists, scales, questionnaires, inventories.
3. Key steps of testing.
4. Principles of test construction.
5. Functions of test in normative/ipsative evaluation.
6. Psychometric characteristics of the test.
7. Key issues of Classical test theory and Item-Response theory.
8. Test users – their functions, responsibility and qualification.
Assessment – written essay
Students‘ workload
Nr. Study outcome
1.
2.
Knowledge and understanding
of testing as a quantitative
method of psychological
assessment
Ability to evaluate test on the
basis of its psychometric
characteristics
Study activity
Contact workload:
1. Lectures
2. Seminar
Independent workload:
1. Collection and selection of course
materials
2. Reading and studying course materials
(pilot reading, analytical reading and
overview)
3. Preparation for an essay
Contact workload:
1. Lectures
2. Practical classes
Independent workload:
1. Collection and selection of course
materials
2. Reading and studying course materials
(pilot reading, analytical reading and
overview)
Student‘s workload in
hrs
4
2
4
15
4
4
2
2
14
3.
4.
5.
Ability to construct testing
scale/questionnaire of
cognitive function
Ability to practically apply
SDQ
Ability to recognize the signs
of ethical and unethical testing
3. Preparation for presentation
4. Preparation for an essay
Contact workload:
1. Consultation with teachers
2. Practical classes
Independent workload:
1. Collection and selection of course
materials
2. Reading and studying course materials
3. Process of construction
3. Reflection of construction as preparation
for an essay
Contact workload:
1. Lectures
2. Practical classes
Independent workload:
1. Collection and selection of course
materials
2. Reading and studying course materials
3. Data collection and interpretation
3. Preparation for a report presentation
4. Preparation for an essay
Contact workload:
1. Lecture
2. Practical classes
Independent workload:
1. Preparation for a discussion
2. Consultation with teacher
3. Preparation for an essay
4
2
4
4
4
4
15
2
4
4
2
4
8
2
2
2
2
8
2
4
Readings:
1. Kline Th. (2005). Psychological testing. Thousand Oaks: London – New Delhi. D10014 in VPU
Laboratory of Psychology.
2. Urbina S. Essentials of psychological testing. Wiley & Sons, 2004. Ur – 06 in in VPU Laboratory of
Psychology.
3. Aiken L. Psychological Testing and Assessment. Boston-New York: Allyn & Bacon, 2003. 159.9 Ai35 in VPU Laboratory of Psychology.
4. Gillham B. Developing a Questionnaire. New York:Continuum, 2005.
5. Reynolds C., Kamphaus R. Handbook of Psychological and educational Assessment of Children.
New York-London: The Guilford Press, 2003. Ha-234 in VPU Laboratory of Psychology.
6. Sattler J. Testing children. Section III in: Assessment of Children. Cognitive Applications, p. 183220. San diego: Author, 2001.