© Association for Advanced Training
ASSOCIATION FOR ADVANCED TRAINING
IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
ONLINE STRATEGIES WORKSHOP FOR THE EPPP
ALDEN HORI, PHD
Welcome 
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The workshop will begin in a few moments. The
workshop will begin in a few moments
You can download the slides by opening the Materials box in the Control Panel.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
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If you need technical assistance with the session, call Citrix technical support at:
 Toll free: 855 352 9003
 Non‐toll free: +1 805 617 7000 [You may incur long‐distance charges.]
 Press option 1
 Press option 1
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COMMUNICATION DURING THE WORKSHOP
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Join audio:
 Choose “Mic & Speakers” to use your computer.
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 Choose “Telephone” and dial in using the telephone information.
Enter your Audio PIN that appears in your control panel
If you have a question:
 Use the Chat feature, which will be displayed on the next screen.
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TOUR OF THE ONLINE CLASSROOM
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WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR
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Alden Hori
 Over 17 years with AATBS
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 Consultant for the psychology program (EPPP)
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GOALS OF THE WORKSHOP
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Describe the psychology licensing exam (EPPP)
Discuss a study plan
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Provide test‐taking tips
Reduce test anxiety
While the EPPP is a very difficult exam …
It is also a passable exam.
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PSYCHOLOGY LICENSING EXAM – EPPP
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EPPP: Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology
 Computerized format
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 Administered throughout the year, Monday‐Saturday
 You can choose which site to take the exam.
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PSYCHOLOGY LICENSING EXAM – EPPP (CONT.)
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Exam Format
 Standard multiple‐choice format: question followed by four choices
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 Total of 225 questions: 175 are scored items; 50 are experimental questions (non‐scored)
 Four hours and fifteen minutes
Exam Scoring
 Scaled scoring system that ranges from 800 to 200
 Passing score is 500 (corresponds to 70%).
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ASSOCIATION OF STATE AND PROVINCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
BOARDS (ASPPB)
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Information about the EPPP is available at www.asppb.net
Contact information for local boards
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EPPP CANDIDATE APPLICATION SYSTEM
WWW.ASPPB.NET/?PAGE=EPPPSIGNUP
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First apply for a license in the state or province where you want to practice.
You will not be able to login and register for the EPPP until your licensing board uploads information indicating that you have met the prerequisites for testing in your state or province. Once your licensing board uploads your information, you will receive an automated email from eppp@asppb.org notifying you that you can go online to register.
Pearson VUE is the new testing vendor.
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If you have not received an email from eppp@asppb.org regarding your eligibility, contact your state or provincial licensing board to advise them that you need to be authorized in the new EPPP online registration system.
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PSYCHOLOGY CONTENT DOMAINS
AATBS Content Domains  Ethics  Abnormal Psychology
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 Clinical Psychology
 Industrial/Organizational Psychology
 Lifespan Development
 Learning Theory and Behavioral & Cognitive/Behavioral Therapies
 Physiological Psychology and Psychopharmacology
 Social Psychology
 Statistics and Research Design
 Test Construction
 Psychological Assessment
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EPPP Content Domains
 Assessment & Diagnosis (14%)
 Biological Bases of Behavior (12%)
Bi l i l B
f B h i (12%)
 Cognitive‐Affective Bases of Behavior (13%)
 Ethical/Legal/Professional Issues (15%)
 Growth & Lifespan Development (12%)
 Research Methods & Statistics (8%)
 Social & Cultural Bases of Behavior (12%)
 Treatment, Intervention, Prevention, & Supervision (14%)
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CONTENT EMPHASIS
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Ethics Abnormal Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Lifespan Development
Learning Theory and Behavioral & Cognitive/Behavioral Therapies
Physiological Psychology and Psychopharmacology
Statistics and Research Design
Social Psychology
T t C t ti
Test Construction
Psychological Assessment
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TWO‐PHASE STUDY PLAN
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The two‐phase study plan simply means that the goal is to read the written content chapters twice and review all of the TestMASTER
questions twice by the end of your preparation.
We’ll give you more than enough information to pass the EPPP …
Your responsibility is to find the time to study the information.
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HOW LONG SHOULD I PREPARE FOR THE EXAM?
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About three to four months
About 10‐15 hours per week
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“If I don’t have a deadline, should I spend a year or more preparing for the exam?”
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A FOUR‐MONTH PLAN
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Two key elements:  11 written content chapters
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 8+ TestMASTER exams
 Begin with the Assessment Exam (additional exam)
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PHASE 1 (OF THE TWO‐PHASE STUDY PLAN)
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2½ months which is about 11 weeks
Since there are 11 content chapters, this translates to one content p
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area per week.
Read at a brisk space (“Read it like a novel”)
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WHAT IS THE SEQUENCE THAT I SHOULD COMPLETE THE
CONTENT CHAPTERS?
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I recommend to start first with the content area you would enjoy reading or a content area that you feel is your strong area, for example, Ethics or Clinical Psychology.
Don’t start with the most difficult area. For many candidates, it’s Statistics and Research Design.
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SHOULD I TAKE NOTES?
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Yes, but wait until the second phase to incorporate note‐taking. During the first phase … g
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You don’t know what you don’t know.
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WHEN SHOULD I BEGIN TO USE THE PRACTICE QUESTIONS?
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Use the practice questions throughout the study process.
During the first week, after you have finished reading the first g
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content chapter, begin the practice questions.
Don’t complete an entire exam. Instead, complete questions from one content area at a time.
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ONLINE EXAM PROGRAM
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Use the Section Quizzes. This feature will allow you to specifically target one content area like Clinical Psychology.
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PHASE 1 CONTINUED
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Week 1: Clinical Psychology chapter and Clinical Psychology questions
Week 2: Abnormal Psychology chapter and Abnormal Psychology questions
... and so on.
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During the second week of the study plan, select another content chapter, for example, Abnormal Psychology. After reading the chapter, return to your online questions and complete the corresponding Abnormal Psychology questions.
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PHASE 2: ABOUT 5 WEEKS
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Transition to the TestMASTER exams
 In TestMASTER, complete three exams in Study Mode.  Evaluate your pattern of errors from the practice questions; “tracking the errors” to identify areas of deficiency.
 Then target those topics within each content chapter.
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PHASE 2: ABOUT 5 WEEKS (CONT.)
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Now that you have identified the problematic areas, this is a good time to incorporate note‐taking – flashcards, tables, charts, etc.
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Brand name
Typical / atypical
features
Rapid / delayed
onset
Side effects
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Generic name
Complete three more exams in TestMASTER – in Study Mode or Exam Mode.
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FINAL STAGE
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After Phase 2, you may have about two weeks remaining. Complete the remaining exams in Exam Mode. Simulate the actual p
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test conditions.
Then briskly review the TestMASTER exams a second time.
Then you will have completed the Two‐Phase Study Plan.
If time permits, complete another round of the TestMASTER exams, or at least review incorrect questions from earlier exams.
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WHAT SHOULD I DO ON THE DAY BEFORE THE EXAM?
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At a reasonable hour, put the study materials aside and rest for your exam.
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ADDITIONAL FAQS
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DO I NEED TO KNOW THE DSM‐V FOR THE EXAM?
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Implications of DSM‐V Publication on EPPP Content (from ASPPB)
The fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) y
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Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is scheduled for publication in May 2013. All questions on the EPPP through July 31, 2014 related to the DSM will refer to the DSM‐IV. Beginning August 1, 2014, all DSM questions on the EPPP will refer to the DSM‐V.
 Exam administrations through July 31, 2014:
DSM‐IV
 Exam administrations August 1, 2014 and after:
DSM‐V
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WHAT SHOULD I BE SCORING AT THE END OF MY
PREPARATION?
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By the end of your preparation, your goal is to score in the mid‐70s or a little higher.
Our exams are very difficult (and they reflect the difficulty level of EPPP) so participants are typically not able to pass our exams in the early stages of their preparation.
There is a learning curve so it is important to be patient with yourself.
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HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD I DEVOTE TO STATISTICS AND
TEST CONSTRUCTION?
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Most candidates find Statistics and Test Construction to be the two most difficult content domains.
You should not study these two domains at the expense of more heavily weighed content domains.
An effective strategy for many successful candidates is to compensate for deficiencies in Statistics and Test Construction by performing better in the big domains.
If you need a little extra help, we offer a live online workshop on Statistics and Test Construction.
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WHEN SHOULD I ATTEND THE 4‐DAY WORKSHOP?
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In other words, should I go at the beginning of my preparation or at the end?
4‐day workshop locations:
Chicago, IL
Detroit, MI
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Dallas, TX
Atlanta, GA
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
San Diego, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Seattle, WA
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WHAT ARE THE PASS RATES OF AATBS PARTICIPANTS?
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About 90% of AATBS participants pass the EPPP on their first attempt. © Association for Advanced Tra
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HOW OFTEN DO WE UPDATE THE STUDY MATERIALS?
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We research the newest topics on the EPPP on an ongoing basis.
This information is integrated into the study program twice a year.
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SHOULD I CHANGE MY ANSWERS DURING THE EXAM?
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Typically, you should not change a response to a question because you simply don’t feel good about your answer.
Only change an answer if you specifically recall additional information that would lead to a better answer. 33
LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
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Question 1. In Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, the age associated with his “autonomy versus shame and doubt” stage is comparable to which of Freud’s stages?
a. genital stage
b. oral stage
c. anal stage
d. phallic stage
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CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
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Question 2. Mrs. Park, a high school principal, wants to reduce the drop‐out rate among her students. She has identified individual students who are at‐risk due to delinquency and poor grades. She has developed a new program to provide these students with additional support (e.g., counseling, tutoring, etc.) to help prevent them from dropping out of high school. Which type of prevention does this program represent?
a. primary prevention
b. secondary prevention
c. tertiary prevention
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d. crisis prevention
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LEARNING THEORY AND BEHAVIORAL & COGNITIVE/BEHAVIORAL
THERAPIES
(REVIEW THE QUESTION ON THE SLIDE BEFORE STARTING THE TEST)
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Question 3. A researcher is studying the ability of individuals to remember a list of items. The subjects are first presented a list of 10 words Immediately after the final item is presented the subjects are
words. Immediately after the final item is presented, the subjects are asked to recall as many words as they can remember. According to the serial position effect, the subjects should be able to:
a. remember the words at the end of the list the best, but recall for the words at the beginning and middle of the list should be equally poor.
b. remember the words at the middle of the list the best, but recall for the words at the beginning and end of the list should be equally poor
equally poor.
c. remember the words at the beginning of the list the best, but recall for the words at the middle and end of the list should be equally poor.
d. remember the words at the beginning and end of the list better than words at the middle of the list.
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SERIAL POSITION EFFECT
Percent recalled
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HOW TO EXPAND UPON THE INFORMATION IN A QUESTION
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Why is the serial position effect important within the memory literature?
 The serial position effect is used to support the multi‐stage model of memory which states that memory can be divided into three stages – sensory register, short‐term memory, and long‐term memory. 38
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AATBS PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM
Online Exam Program
 Eight or more full‐length exams
 Test questions simulate content and Test questions simulate content and
structure of the actual exam
 Each question is accompanied by a detailed rationale that explains the logic underlying the question
 Computerized program that scores responses instantly and provides performance analysis
 Results automatically stored in a history file for future reference
 Also includes quizzes if purchased
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Written Content Chapters
 Ethics  Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
 Clinical Psychology
 Industrial/Organizational Psychology
 Lifespan Development
 Learning Theory and Behavioral & Cognitive/Behavioral Therapies
 Physiological Psychology and Psychopharmacology
 Social Psychology
 Statistics and Research Design
 Test Construction
 Psychological Assessment
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AATBS PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM
Recorded Online Workshop
Recorded lectures that closely parallel the live 4‐day workshop
 Review as much as you like during the subscription period
the subscription period
 Available 24/7 via the Internet
10‐Session Online Group Consultation
 Helps you stay motivated and focused
 Address your questions about the study materials
 Focuses on the most heavily emphasized and challenging content domains
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Content Summary Digital Library
11 content areas
 Review of key concepts and practice questions
 Listen to the recordings at your convenience
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Live 4‐Day Workshop
 32 hours of live instruction
 Experienced instructors who Experienced instructors who
provide you the latest exam information
 100 additional practice questions
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AATBS PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM
Online Workshop: Foundations of Statistics and Test Construction
 Instruction on the fundamental concepts underlying statistics and test construction
 Present the topics in easy‐to‐
understand language
DSM‐5 Tools
 Comparison Table
 Flip Cards
 Recorded Workshop
Educational Consultants
Develop a study plan
 Explain difficult concepts
 Assist with test‐taking skills
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Color‐Coded Flashcards
 Hundreds of flashcards color‐coded by content area
by content area
 Summarizes the key concepts from the study materials
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STOP NEGATIVE STATEMENTS ABOUT YOUR ABILITY TO PASS
THE EXAM.
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“I know I am not doing as well as other participants.”
“I am not good at multiple‐choice questions.”
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QUESTIONS
Answer Key
 1 = C
 2 = B
 3 = D
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Contact AATBS:
 1‐800‐472‐1931  www.aatbs.com
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