HPC 5140 – Psychological and Educational Testing
Dr George Maycock
Office: 426E
Phone: 262-3105; email: maycockga@appstate.edu
Class website at: www.asulearn.appstate.edu
Course Description
A study of representative psychological and educational tests/inventories,
including the rationale which underlies testing. The course includes
introductory knowledge of standardized measurement instruments used in
school, mental health, and marriage and family counseling settings.
Professional counselors must have knowledge of how to choose, use, read,
and interpret psychological tests. The course will include examination of
Instrument psychometric properties, such as reliability and validity, the
intended purpose of assessment, normative comparisons of standardization
samples and the influence of cultural dynamics such as race, ethnicity,
gender, sexual orientation, age, ability and socioeconomic status within the
process of assessment and counseling. Students will participate in class
presentations, discussions, role-plays, and class exercises while respecting
each other’s disclosures as voluntary and owned by the person who selfdiscloses. Class exercises are employed for training purposes and intended
to enhance students’ knowledge, awareness, and skills as a professional
counselor and consumer of tests.
Course Objectives
 Know the history and philosophy of the testing movement.
 Develop understanding of the technical bases on which tests are
constructed (e.g. reliability, validity) to gain the ability to evaluate the
strengths and weakness of standardized test instruments.
 Understand the principles underlying major categories of tests such as
intelligence, aptitude, achievement, personality, interest, and
projective.
 Understand professional ethics and legal standards as related to
psychological/educational testing.
 Understand how test results are affected by multicultural differences
and by various exceptionalities.
 Practice administering, taking, scoring, and interpreting various
representative samples of standardized tests/inventories.
 Practice writing a clinical report through the means of self-evaluation,
integrating test results obtained during the course.
Topical Content Outline
 Basic assessment concepts
 Historical foundations and perspectives of assessment
 Legal, ethical and diversity foundations and perspectives to
assessment
 Test construction
 Selecting, administering, scoring, statistical concepts, and interpreting
assessment instruments
 Reliability and validity
 Clinical assessment and diagnosis
 Personality assessment
 Behavioral assessment
 Assessment of intelligence
 Assessment of other aptitudes
 Assessment of achievement
 Assessment in career counseling
 Assessing couples and families
CACREP Common Core and CMHC and/or PSC Specialty
Requirements Met by HPC 5140 – Psychological and Educational
Testing Course
Content Areas:
Students in HPC 5140 will enhance their knowledge and skill development
in the following CACREP content areas:
2. Counseling Prevention and Intervention
3. Diversity and Advocacy
4. Assessment
Knowledge and Skill Outcomes:
In addition to the above stated objectives HPC 5140 Psychological and
Educational Testing meets the following CACREP common core and
CMHC and/or PSC specialty requirements:
Common Core:
 G.7a. Historical perspectives concerning the nature and meaning of
assessment (In-class discussion; Chapter 2 Quiz).
 G.7.b. Basic concepts of standardized and non-standardized testing
and other assessment techniques, including norm-referenced and
criterion –referenced assessment, environmental assessment,
performance assessment, individual and group test and inventory
methods, psychological testing, and behavioral observations (In-class
discussion; Chapter 1Quiz, Chapter 4 Quiz).
 G.7.c. Statistical concepts, including scales of measurement, measures
of central tendency, indices of variability, shapes and types of
distributions, and correlations (In-class discussion; Chapter 5 Quiz).
 G.7.d. Reliability (i.e., theory of measurement error, models of
reliability, and the use of reliability information) (In-class discussion;
Chapter 6 Quiz).
 G.7.e. Validity (i.e., evidence of validity, types of validity, and the
relationship between reliability and validity) (In-class discussion;
Chapter 7 Quiz).
 G.7.f. Social and cultural factors related to the assessment and
evaluation of individuals, groups and specific populations (In-class
discussion; Chapter 3 Quiz).
 G.7.g. Ethical strategies for selecting administering and interpreting
assessment and evaluation instruments and techniques in counseling
(In-class discussion; Chapter 3 Quiz).
CMHC Specialty Requirements
 E.1. Understands how living in a multicultural society affects
clients who are seeking clinical mental health counseling services
(In-class discussion; Chapter 3 Quiz, Chapter 8 Quiz).
 F.3.Demonstrates the ability to modify counseling systems,
theories, techniques, and interventions to make they culturally
appropriate for diverse populations (In-class discussion; Chapter 3
Quiz).
 G.2. Understands various models and approaches to clinical
evaluation and their appropriate uses, including diagnostic
interviews, mental status examinations, symptom inventories, and
psychoeducational and personality assessments (In-class
discussion; Chapter 8 Quiz, Chapter 9 Quiz).
 H.1. Selects appropriate comprehensive interventions to assist in
diagnosis and treatment planning, with an awareness of cultural
bias in the implementation and interpretation of assessment
protocols (In-class discussion; Individual evaluation of assessment
instruments; Chapter 8 Quiz).
PSC Specialty Requirements
 E.1 Understands the cultural, ethical, economic, legal and political
issues surrounding diversity, equity, and excellence in terms of
student learning (In-class discussion; Chapter 3 Quiz).
 G.3. Identifies various forms of needs assessments for academic,
career, and personal/social development (In-class discussion;
Chapter 11, 12, 13 Quizzes).
 H.1. Assesses and integrates students’ strengths and needs,
recognizing uniqueness in cultures, languages, values,
backgrounds, and abilities (In-class discussion; Chapter 3 Quiz).
 H.2. Selects appropriate assessment strategies that can be used to
evaluate a student’s academic, career, and personal/social
development (In-class discussion; Chapter 9, 12, 13, 14 Quizzes).
Method of Instruction
Instruction includes lecture, large and small group discussion, AsULearn
online quizzes, student presentations, and student participation in group
activities and role plays.
Course Requirements,. Evaluation Criteria and Due Dates
1. Individual evaluation of assessment instruments. Evaluate a test
typically employed within area of specialty. This should include a test
review found in Mental Measurements Yearbook or Tests in Print, as
well as a professional journal article. (10% of final grade).
2. Project discussion groups. Students will be assigned to one of the
following groups: Intelligence testing (ch 11), achievement
assessment (ch 13), career counseling assessment (ch 14), couples and
families assessment (ch 15), clinical assessment and diagnosis (ch 8),
personality assessment (ch 9), behavioral assessment (ch 10). Each
group will lead a class discussion on their topic..(10% of final grade)
3. Self-evaluation. A written clinical report which integrates all test
results taken and obtained during the course. An outline for the report
will be provided by the instructor. (20% of final grade)
4. Practice quizzes on line – with mastery at the 80% correct level by
due date. (15% of final grade)
5. Class participation/homework completion – by due dates (10% of
final grade)
6. Exam - last class. (35% of final grade)
Class Attendance
Weekly readings, practice quiz completion, and attendance at class and web
activities and discussions is expected. For additional information on ASU
attendance policies, disability services and academic integrity code see
www.academicaffairs.appstate.edu/syllabi.
Required Readings
TEXT – Assessment for Counselors by Bradley T. Erford (2013) (2nd
edition). Brooks/Cole – Cengage Learning. ISBN: 0-8400-2861.
Required Test Materials
HPC 5140 Test Materials (provided by instructor) requires a $35 fee to be
collected by second class meeting.
ASU is committed to making reasonable accommodations for individuals with documented qualifying disabilities
in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973. Those seeking accommodations based on a substantially limiting disability must contact and register with
the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at www.ods.appstate.edu or 828-262-3056. Once registration is
complete, individuals will meet with ODS staff to discuss eligibility and appropriate accommodations.
Refer to ASU Academic Affairs website for information on the ASU Academic Integrity Code and the ASU
Religious Observance Policy.