Students

PSYG8001 – Psychological Assessment

2023 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Jennifer Batchelor
jennifer.batchelor@mq.edu.au
Melissa Norberg
melissa.norberg@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MClinPsych; or MClinNeuro; or MProfPsych
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit examines the theory and practice of test use in professional psychology. The unit teaches key aspects of administration, scoring and interpretation of a broad range of tests likely to be utilised in professional psychological practice. Students are instructed in the accurate reporting of results.

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 a variety of psychological tests of cognition and behaviour used in the specific discipline of enrolment, including competence in the selection and use of appropriate normative information.
  • ULO2: Score, interpret and communicate the results of psychological assessment, with reference to diagnostic considerations.
  • ULO3: Critically evaluate the current evidence base in order to conduct a suicide and risk assessment in line with regulatory frameworks.

General Assessment Information

General assessment Information

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128).

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

Late Submissions

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

 For example:

Number of days (hours) late

Total Possible Marks

Deduction

Raw mark

Final mark

1 day (1-24 hours)

100

5

75

70

2 days (24-48 hours)

100

10

75

65

3 days (48-72 hours)

100

15

75

60

7 days (144-168 hours)

100

35

75

40

>7 days (>168 hours)

100

-

75

0

 

Late submission of time sensitive tasks, such as timetabled tests/exams, scheduled performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs, will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.  

Special Consideration

If you are unable to complete an assessment task on or by the specified date due circumstances that are unexpected, unavoidable, significantly disruptive and beyond your control, you may apply for special consideration in accordance with the special consideration policy. Applications for special consideration must be supported by appropriate evidence and submitted via ask.mq.edu.au.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Suicide and Risk Assessment Quizz 10% Yes see iLearn for specific dates
Pass-out exam 30% Yes see iLearn for specific dates
Scoring and Interpretative task 60% Yes see iLearn for specific dates

Suicide and Risk Assessment Quizz

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 11 hours
Due: see iLearn for specific dates
Weighting: 10%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

Students completes a quizz based on completion of a full day suicide and risk assessment workshop

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically evaluate the current evidence base in order to conduct a suicide and risk assessment in line with regulatory frameworks.

Pass-out exam

Assessment Type 1: Viva/oral examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 32 hours
Due: see iLearn for specific dates
Weighting: 30%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

Students will complete viva exams assessing administration of tests relevant to their discipline

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Administer a variety of psychological tests of cognition and behaviour used in the specific discipline of enrolment, including competence in the selection and use of appropriate normative information.

Scoring and Interpretative task

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 41 hours
Due: see iLearn for specific dates
Weighting: 60%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

Students will complete scoring of standardised tests relevant to their discipline. Students will complete an interpretative task relevant to their discipline.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Score, interpret and communicate the results of psychological assessment, with reference to diagnostic considerations.

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

This unit is delivered to three groups of students: Master of Clinical Neuropsychology (MCN), Master of Clinical Psychology (MCP) and Master of Professional Psychology (MPP) students. Most of the time during session, you will attend classes with only your cohort. MCN students will attend weekly seminars. MCP and MPP students will attend scheduled full-day workshops. All students will attend one scheduled workshop (workshop 2) in week 3 of session. The schedule of attendance for your cohort is available on the iLearn page.

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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
19/01/2023 Added information about penalties for late submission and special consideration under General Assessment Information

Unit information based on version 2023.03 of the Handbook