Students

PSYC8986 – Clinical Psychological Assessment 1

2021 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lorna Peters
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.

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.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
WISC-V Scoring task 0% Yes Week 5
WISC-V report 30% Yes Week 7
Pass out examination for WAIS-IV 0% Yes Week 8 or Week 9 (to be confirmed via iLearn)
Assessment plan 1 35% Yes Week 10
Assessment plan 2 35% Yes Week 13

WISC-V Scoring task

Assessment Type 1: Clinical performance evaluation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Students will be provided with WISC-V scores for a hypothetical case. They will be required to score the test.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Administer, score, and interpret results on a variety of tests used in the clinical context.

WISC-V report

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 30%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Students will be required to write a 1500 word report based on the scored WISC-V protocol for a hypothetical case.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Administer, score, and interpret results on a variety of tests used in the clinical context.
  • Report on the results of assessments in written and oral form and demonstrate knowledge of the ethical principles guiding use of assessment techniques.

Pass out examination for WAIS-IV

Assessment Type 1: Clinical performance evaluation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 8 or Week 9 (to be confirmed via iLearn)
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Students will be required to demonstrate a satisfactory level of competence in administering the WAIS-IV to a supervisor who will role-play as the examinee and also rate performance using a standard checklist.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Administer, score, and interpret results on a variety of tests used in the clinical context.

Assessment plan 1

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 35%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Students will be required to provide a detailed and justified assessment plan for a hypothetical client with a mood disorder in 1500 words.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply an evidence-based framework for selecting and judging the quality of psychological tests for treatment planning and outcome assessment in the clinical context.

Assessment plan 2

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 35%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Students will be required to provide a detailed and justified assessment plan for a hypothetical client with a anxiety disorder in 1500 words.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply an evidence-based framework for selecting and judging the quality of psychological tests for treatment planning and outcome assessment in the clinical context.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

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 9-4pm; 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

Week

Date

Topic 

1

Wednesday 24 Feb

Introduction to the unit: Assessment in clinical practice and revision of basic psychometrics

2

Wednesday 3 March

Test library orientation; Evidence based assessment; searching for assessment methods

2

Friday 5 March

Full Day Workshop: Assessment of intelligence in children - WISC-V 

3

Wednesday 10 March

Assessment of achievement: WIAT-III

4

Wednesday 17 March 

No in-person seminar this week. Listen to two recordings: Interpreting scores on the Wechsler intelligence scales and Communicating the results of testing

5

Wednesday 24 March

Structured Diagnostic Interviewing (SCID-CV); 

6

Friday 26 March

Full Day Workshop: Assessment of intelligence in adults - WAIS-IV

6

Wednesday 31 March

Assessment of mood disorders (clinician rating scales)

Midsession Recess

7

Wednesday 21 April

Assessment of mood disorders (self-report measures)

8

Wednesday 28 April

Assessment of anxiety disorders (diagnostic interviewing)

9

Wednesday 5 May

Assessment of anxiety disorders (self-report measures: phobias and GAD)

10

Wednesday 12 May

Assessment of anxiety disorders (behavioural assessment)

11

Wednesday 19 May

Assessment of anxiety and related disorders (OCD; screening for trauma)

12

Wednesday 26 May

No seminar this week

13

Wednesday 2 June

No seminar this week

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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
22/01/2021 None.

Unit information based on version 2021.01R of the Handbook