Students

PSYN8853 – Advanced Evidence-Based Neuropsychological Assessment

2020 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor & Lecturer
Jasmina Vrankovic
Contact via Email
4 First Walk
By appointment
Director, Clinical Neuropsychology
Jennifer Batchelor
Contact via Email
4 First Walk, Room 522
By appointment
Lecturer
Melanie Porter
Contact via Email
4 First Walk, Room 508
By appointment
Lecturer
Philippe Gilchrist
Contact via Email
4 First Walk, Room 705
By appointment
Jennifer Batchelor
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MClinNeuro
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit provides an introduction to an evidence-based approach to neuropsychological assessment and familiarises students with the Wechsler scales that are commonly used in advanced neuropsychological practice. Detailed theoretical and clinical information is provided, as well as training in the administration and scoring of selected instruments. Tests covered include those typically employed to assess intellectual function and memory, and both adult and child assessment techniques are addressed. Students are introduced to the Advanced Clinical Solutions that include tests of premorbid function, performance validity, reliable change and demographic adjustment that advance the use and interpretation of clinical assessment. To support the first supervised clinical placement, a structure for clinical interviewing and history taking is introduced; counselling and assessment skills are presented to use to support distressed and to assess suicidal clients.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Administer, score, and interpret results on a variety of neuropsychological tests, taking into account base rates in clinical interpretation.
  • ULO2: Apply an evidence-based framework for judging the quality of psychometric measures, and demonstrate understanding of flexible hypothesis testing in neuropsychological assessment.
  • ULO3: Demonstrate skills in suicide and risk assessment, and responsibility in ethical practice.

Assessment Tasks

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Assessment Information

Competency (defined as 'fitness to practice' at a first clinical placement level) in all practical components and achieving a minimum professional standard of a pass grade is required to obtain an overall pass in this unit.

Consistent with the Assessment Policy, students who make a serious attempt at a Hurdle Assessment, but fail to meet minimum standards (i.e., pass the task) will be given a second opportunity to complete the task to the minimum standard. Students who fail to meet minimum standards on the second attempt will fail the unit. The maximum mark achieved after a second attempt is a pass (i.e,. 50%). 

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Seminars

The unit is taught by seminars/lectures (13 x 3 hour seminars, Tuesday 2-5pm in 11 Wally's Walk, Room 110), with some seminars involving substantial practical content and interactive learning. Students are required to spend a significant period outside of class time completing assessment tasks and preparing for pass-out examinations.

 

Attendance

Students are expected to attend and participate in all seminars. Late attendances are disruptive to all participants, and compromise the late student's full participation in the seminars content. Due to the practical nature of the unit, any missed seminars are unable to be adequately compensated through the usual ways of listening to audio recordings, reading, and discussion with fellow students. If there are exceptional circumstances where you will be late, this needs to be discussed with the unit convenor beforehand. This is considered good etiquette in a professional context. A late attendance may be regarded as a missed seminar. A disruption to studies request must be submitted to the unit convenor through www.ask.mq.edu.au if a class is missed.

 

Readings 

Required texts (Held In Reserve in the Test Library)

Crowe, S.R., (2010). Evidence of Absence: A guide to Cognitive Assessment in Australia. Queensland, Australia: Australian Academic Press.

Lezak, M. D., Howieson, D. B., Bigler, E.D., & Tranel, D. (2012). Neuropsychological Assessment. Fifth Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Recommended texts (Held in Reserve in the Test Library)

Drozdick, L.W., Holdnack, J.A., & Hilsabeck, R.C., (2011). Essentials of WMS-IV Assessment. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Lichtenberger, E.O., & Kaufman, A.S., (2009). Essentials of WAIS-IV Assessment. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Strauss, E., Sherman, E.M.S., & Spreen O. (2006). A Compendium of Neuropsychological Tests: Administration, Norms, and Commentary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Required Equipment

Stopwatch, clipboard, ruler, eraser, and pencils.

 

Online Resources

Lecture notes and relevant journal articles are provided on iLearn for this unit.

Unit Schedule

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Week

Date

Lecture Topic

Lecturer

1

25 Feb

Introduction to Neuropsychological Assessment

Dr Jasmina Vrankovic

2

03 Mar

WAIS-IV: Administration and Scoring

Dr Jasmina Vrankovic

3

10 Mar

WAIS-IV: Clinical Interpretation

 

WAIS-IV Pass-out Workshop (Date TBC)

Dr Jasmina Vrankovic

4

17 Mar

WAIS-IV: Revision & WMS-IV: Introduction

 

WAIS-IV Take Home Scoring Exam Due (bring to lecture)

 

WAIS-IV Pass-out (Saturday 21st March)

Dr Jasmina Vrankovic

5

24 Mar

WMS-IV: Administration and Scoring

 

Suicide & Risk Assessment Workshop (Friday 27th March)

Dr Jasmina Vrankovic

6

31 Mar

WMS-IV: Clinical Interpretation

 

WMS-IV Take Home Scoring Exam 1 Due (bring to lecture)

 

Suicide & Risk Assessment Workshop Quiz Due (9am Tuesday 31st March)

Dr Jasmina Vrankovic

7

07 Apr

Advanced Clinical Solutions – Part 1

 

WMS-IV Take Home Scoring Exam 2 Due (bring to lecture)

Dr Jasmina Vrankovic

MID-SEMESTER BREAK

MID-SEMESTER BREAK

8

28 Apr

Advanced Clinical Solutions – Part 2

 

WMS-IV Pass-out (Saturday 2nd May)

Dr Jasmina Vrankovic

9

05 May

WISC-V: Administration

A/Prof Melanie Porter

10

12 May

WISC-V: Scoring and Interpretation I

 

A/Prof Melanie Porter

11

19 May

WISC-V: Scoring and Interpretation II

 

Ethics Workshop (Friday 22nd May)

A/Prof Melanie Porter

12

26 May

Interviewing and Counselling

 

Ethics Assignment Due (Friday 29th May)

 

WISC-V Pass-out (Saturday 30th May)

Dr Philippe Gilchrist

13

02 Jun

The Clinical Interview and Overview of Report Writing

 

Report using ACS Software Due  (bring to lecture)

Dr Jasmina Vrankovic

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
20/02/2020 Suicide & Risk Assessment Workshop Quiz due date changed