Students

PSYN8853 – Advanced Evidence-Based Neuropsychological Assessment

2025 – 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
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 you 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. You will be 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, suicide and risk assessment is introduced and detailed .

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 and evaluating knowledge of diversity issues in clinical interpretation. (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner)
  • ULO2: Appraise an evidence-based framework for judging the quality of psychometric measures, and evaluate and support flexible hypothesis testing in neuropsychological assessment. (Capability 1: Scientist and Scholar)
  • ULO3: Interpret and judge suicidal ideation and evaluate risk assessments (Capability 4: Professional)

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 any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Scoring Examinations I, II, III 45% No Week 4; Week 6; Week 8
Wechsler Pass out Examinations 25% Yes Week 4
WISC-V Pass out Examination 10% Yes Week 13
WMS Pass out Examination 10% Yes Week 8
Suicide and Risk Clinical Assessment 0% Yes Week 11
Report using ACS Software 10% No Week 13

Scoring Examinations I, II, III

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 27 hours
Due: Week 4; Week 6; Week 8
Weighting: 45%

 

Student are required to complete a series of take home scoring exercises of WAIS and WMS protocols.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Administer, score, and interpret results on a variety of neuropsychological tests, taking into account base rates and evaluating knowledge of diversity issues in clinical interpretation. (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner)

Wechsler Pass out Examinations

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 25%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

The pass-out examinations involve the student administering the Wechsler Scales to an examiner to demonstrate competency in the practice of test administration 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Administer, score, and interpret results on a variety of neuropsychological tests, taking into account base rates and evaluating knowledge of diversity issues in clinical interpretation. (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner)

WISC-V Pass out Examination

Assessment Type 1: Clinical performance evaluation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 10%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

The pass-out examination involves the student administering the WISC-V to an examiner who will assess their competency in test administration

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Administer, score, and interpret results on a variety of neuropsychological tests, taking into account base rates and evaluating knowledge of diversity issues in clinical interpretation. (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner)

WMS Pass out Examination

Assessment Type 1: Clinical performance evaluation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 10%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

The pass-out examination involves the student administering the WMS to an examiner who will assess their competency in test administration

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Administer, score, and interpret results on a variety of neuropsychological tests, taking into account base rates and evaluating knowledge of diversity issues in clinical interpretation. (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner)

Suicide and Risk Clinical Assessment

Assessment Type 1: Clinical performance evaluation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Week 11
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

Students are required to demonstrate competent suicide risk assessment

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Interpret and judge suicidal ideation and evaluate risk assessments (Capability 4: Professional)

Report using ACS Software

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 10%

 

Students will generate reports using the Advanced Clinical Solutions (ACS) software.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Administer, score, and interpret results on a variety of neuropsychological tests, taking into account base rates and evaluating knowledge of diversity issues in clinical interpretation. (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner)
  • Appraise an evidence-based framework for judging the quality of psychometric measures, and evaluate and support flexible hypothesis testing in neuropsychological assessment. (Capability 1: Scientist and Scholar)

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

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities, including readings, online modules, and lectures. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.

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 connect.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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 the Service Connect Portal, 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.

INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

PROFESSIONALISM

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session.

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.


Unit information based on version 2025.04 of the Handbook