Students

PSYC8986 – Clinical Psychological Assessment 1

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

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lorna Peters
lorna.peters@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MClinPsych
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit covers the principles and methods of psychological assessment in the clinical context. The focus is on evidence-based assessment of clinical disorders in order to formulate the case and to evaluate progress through, and outcome of, therapy. The unit covers: selection of appropriate assessment techniques; administration, scoring, and interpretation of assessment devices; communication of information about assessments (report-writing and feedback to clients); and ethical principles relating to assessment. The assessment tools covered in the course include tests of cognition, diagnosis (structured and semi-structured interviews), and psychopathology (especially anxiety disorders and mood disorders), and treatment process variables. Methods of assessment covered include standardized tests, structured and semi-structured interviews, and behavioural observations, amongst others.

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: Apply an evidence-based framework for selecting and judging the quality of psychological tests for treatment planning and outcome assessment in the clinical context.
  • ULO2: Administer, score, and interpret results on a variety of tests used in the clinical context.
  • ULO3: Report on the results of assessments in written and oral form and demonstrate knowledge of the ethical principles guiding use of assessment techniques.

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

See links to the Assessment Policy and the Special Consideration Policy in the Policies and Procedures section of this Unit Guide.

Late submissions

All assessment tasks have a strict due date. Ordinarily, no extensions of time for submission of assessment tasks will be granted. If students experience unexpected, unavoidable, and serious circumstances affecting submission of assessable work they may lodge an application for Special Consideration via ask.mq.edu.au with supporting documentary evidence. All requests for special consideration must be made no later than five working days after the due date of the assessment task. Where special consideration has not been granted, late submissions will not be accepted. 

Hurdle requirements

All of the assessment tasks are hurdle requirements - they require a minimum level of performance in order for students to pass the Unit. The assessment tasks allow demonstration of 'fitness to practice' as a clinical psychologist, which is essential prior to the first placement in the Macquarie University Psychology Clinic. Consistent with the Assessment Policy of the University, students who make a serious attempt at the task but fail to meet the required standards, will be provided with one additional opportunity to complete the task to a satisfactory standard. Failure of the second attempt will result in a Fail (FH) grade for the entire unit (even if the raw mark for the Unit is over 50) and this, in turn, will result in a delay in starting the Clinic placement or further placements. The required standards for the hurdle tasks will be provided via iLearn prior to completion of the task. 

 

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

There will be one 2-hour seminar per week (Wednesday 3-5pm) each week of session. There will also be two full-day workshops (Friday 9-5pm; week 2 and week 6). The seminars and workshops involve theoretical coverage of topics as well as practical skills training. Students will be required to prepare for seminars and workshops by completing required readings or listening to recorded material (available via iLearn). Students will have access to the Department of Psychology Test Library.

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

The schedule of seminars and workshops is listed below. There may be slight variations in the schedule due to staff availability. 

Week Date Topic Staff
1 Wednesday 26 Feb Introduction to the unit: Assessment in clinical practice and revision of basic psychometrics Lorna Peters
2 Wednesday 4 March Test library orientation; Evidence based assessmentL searching for assessment methods Lorna Peters
2 Friday 6 March Full Day Workshop: WISC-V and WIAT-III Lorna Peters/Sharon Watt
3 Wednesday 11 March Scoring the WISC-V Lorna Peters
4 Wednesday 18 March No seminar this week. Listen to two recordings: Interpreting scores on the Wechsler intelligence scales and Communicating the results of testing Lorna Peters
5 Wednesday 25 March Structured Diagnostic Interviewing (SCID-CV) Lorna Peters
6 Wednesday 1 April Assessment of mood disorders (clinician rating scales) Lorna Peters
6 Friday 3 April Full Day Workshop: WAIS-IV Lorna Peters
7 Wednesday 8 April Assessment of mood disorders (self-report measures) Lorna Peters
  Midsession Recess    
8 Wednesday 29 April Assessment of anxiety disorders (diagnostic interviewing) Lorna Peters
9 Wednesday 6 May Assessment of anxiety disorders (self-report measures: phobias and GAD) Lorna Peters
10 Wednesday 13 May Assessment of anxiety disorders (behavioural assessment) Lorna Peters
11 Wednesday 20 May Assessment of anxiety and related disorders (OCD; screening for trauma) Lorna Peters
12 Wednesday 27 May No seminar this week  
13 Wednesday 3 June No seminar this week  

 

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
09/01/2020 Changes made to the due date for the Passout examination for he WAIS-IV.