Students

PSY 471 – Ethics and Psychological Assessment

2012 – D2

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Other Staff
Jac Brown
Contact via jac.brown@mq.edu.au
Unit Convenor
Natasha Todorov
Contact via natasha.todorov@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
PSY490 or PSY495
Co-badged status Co-badged status
PSYC431/PSYC890
Unit description Unit description
This compulsory unit is designed to provide an overview of ethical, conceptual and professional issues in relation to the practice of psychology, and to introduce students to the history, theoretical and empirical bases of some of the most widely used cognitive and personality tests. In the assessment section, theories of intelligence and their application to IQ tests and issues which are generic to psychometric assessment in any domain will be discussed within a scientist-practitioner model. Domains of assessment explored are personality, orgainisational psychology and neurological assessment. In the ethics portion of this unit the focus is on the Code of Ethics of both the Australian Psychological Society and the Psychology Board of Australia. These codes will be discussed in the context of case scenarios of psychologist's work with clients. Other professional issues related to becoming a psychologist will be discussed.

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:

  • Identify key ethical issues present in psychological practice scenarios.
  • Describe ways of dealing with practice issues in an ethical manner.
  • Identify the benefits of contact with the Australian Psychological Society
  • Elaborate the key responsibilities that a psychologist has who is registered in New South Wales
  • Understand theoretical research and its application to intelligence testing, personality testing, organisational and neuropsychological testing
  • Understand ethical issues in psychological assessment
  • Understand how research outcomes guide our methods of test interpretation
  • Identify the role of the Australian Psychological Society and the National Registration Board
  • Development of research skills (in writing the assignment)
  • Attention to detail (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)
  • Written skills (in writing up the assignment and exam)
  • Critical Analysis skills (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)
  • Problem solving skills (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)
  • Creative thinking skills (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Class Test 50% September 25, 2012
Final Test 25% Nov 6 2012
ETHICS ASSIGNMENT 25% 10 am, Monday October 22, 2012

Class Test

Due: September 25, 2012
Weighting: 50%

The class test will be held on September 25th  in rooms W5C320 and W5C 335 (we will confirm this closer to the time) from 11- 1  during week 2 of the mid semester break. It is worth 50% of the total grade. You will have two hours to answer two essay questions based on the theoretical issues raised in the Assessment lectures in weeks 1 to 7. You will be provided a variety of questions and be allowed to choose which two you will answer. Please make sure that you give each of your choices equal attention as both questions are of equal value.

 You will not be permitted any study aids in the exam. Please turn off all mobile phones and electronic equipment that you carry when entering the examination room.

 Please write legibly in pen, not pencil.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Attention to detail (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)
  • Written skills (in writing up the assignment and exam)
  • Critical Analysis skills (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)
  • Problem solving skills (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)
  • Creative thinking skills (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)

Final Test

Due: Nov 6 2012
Weighting: 25%

The final test will consist of 25 multiple choice questions that are based on the Student Resource Manual.   It is designed to assess your general understanding of the professional and ethical issues as discussed in these readings.  It is worth 25% of the final grade.  It will be held in week 13 during class time – that is on Nov 6 at 11- 1 in W5A T2 (unless advised otherwise).

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Attention to detail (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)
  • Critical Analysis skills (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)
  • Problem solving skills (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)

ETHICS ASSIGNMENT

Due: 10 am, Monday October 22, 2012
Weighting: 25%

Length:           500 - 1000 words

  Assessment Criteria:

§  Eliciting all of the relevant aspects of the dilemmas from the codes and guidelines of  relevant bodies.

§  Providing a summary of the key issues that need to be addressed in each dilemma.

§  Outline the actions that a psychologist should take to address the dilemmas.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Development of research skills (in writing the assignment)
  • Attention to detail (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)
  • Written skills (in writing up the assignment and exam)
  • Critical Analysis skills (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)
  • Problem solving skills (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)
  • Creative thinking skills (in completing the assignment and writing the exam)

Delivery and Resources

Please look at the unit web page and use the resources available on it to help with your learning and revision.

Unit Schedule

Number of lectures                 13

Length of lectures                   2 hours

Venue                                      Tuesday 11- 1 at W5A T2

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/.

UniWISE provides:

  • Online learning resources and academic skills workshops http://www.mq.edu.au/learning_skills/
  • Personal assistance with your learning & study related questions.
  • The Learning Help Desk is located in the Library foyer (level 2).
  • Online and on-campus orientation events run by Mentors@Macquarie.

Student Services and Support

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

Student Enquiries

Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/.

IT Help

If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify key ethical issues present in psychological practice scenarios.
  • Describe ways of dealing with practice issues in an ethical manner.
  • Identify the benefits of contact with the Australian Psychological Society
  • Elaborate the key responsibilities that a psychologist has who is registered in New South Wales
  • Understand theoretical research and its application to intelligence testing, personality testing, organisational and neuropsychological testing
  • Understand ethical issues in psychological assessment
  • Understand how research outcomes guide our methods of test interpretation
  • Identify the role of the Australian Psychological Society and the National Registration Board
  • Development of research skills (in writing the assignment)

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify key ethical issues present in psychological practice scenarios.
  • Describe ways of dealing with practice issues in an ethical manner.
  • Elaborate the key responsibilities that a psychologist has who is registered in New South Wales
  • Understand theoretical research and its application to intelligence testing, personality testing, organisational and neuropsychological testing
  • Understand ethical issues in psychological assessment
  • Understand how research outcomes guide our methods of test interpretation
  • Development of research skills (in writing the assignment)

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify key ethical issues present in psychological practice scenarios.
  • Describe ways of dealing with practice issues in an ethical manner.
  • Identify the benefits of contact with the Australian Psychological Society
  • Elaborate the key responsibilities that a psychologist has who is registered in New South Wales
  • Understand theoretical research and its application to intelligence testing, personality testing, organisational and neuropsychological testing
  • Understand ethical issues in psychological assessment
  • Understand how research outcomes guide our methods of test interpretation
  • Identify the role of the Australian Psychological Society and the National Registration Board
  • Development of research skills (in writing the assignment)

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify key ethical issues present in psychological practice scenarios.
  • Describe ways of dealing with practice issues in an ethical manner.
  • Identify the benefits of contact with the Australian Psychological Society
  • Elaborate the key responsibilities that a psychologist has who is registered in New South Wales
  • Understand theoretical research and its application to intelligence testing, personality testing, organisational and neuropsychological testing
  • Understand ethical issues in psychological assessment
  • Understand how research outcomes guide our methods of test interpretation
  • Identify the role of the Australian Psychological Society and the National Registration Board
  • Development of research skills (in writing the assignment)

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify key ethical issues present in psychological practice scenarios.
  • Describe ways of dealing with practice issues in an ethical manner.
  • Identify the benefits of contact with the Australian Psychological Society
  • Elaborate the key responsibilities that a psychologist has who is registered in New South Wales
  • Understand theoretical research and its application to intelligence testing, personality testing, organisational and neuropsychological testing
  • Understand ethical issues in psychological assessment
  • Understand how research outcomes guide our methods of test interpretation
  • Identify the role of the Australian Psychological Society and the National Registration Board
  • Development of research skills (in writing the assignment)

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify key ethical issues present in psychological practice scenarios.
  • Identify the benefits of contact with the Australian Psychological Society
  • Understand theoretical research and its application to intelligence testing, personality testing, organisational and neuropsychological testing
  • Understand ethical issues in psychological assessment
  • Understand how research outcomes guide our methods of test interpretation
  • Development of research skills (in writing the assignment)

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify key ethical issues present in psychological practice scenarios.
  • Identify the benefits of contact with the Australian Psychological Society
  • Elaborate the key responsibilities that a psychologist has who is registered in New South Wales
  • Understand theoretical research and its application to intelligence testing, personality testing, organisational and neuropsychological testing
  • Understand ethical issues in psychological assessment
  • Understand how research outcomes guide our methods of test interpretation
  • Development of research skills (in writing the assignment)

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify key ethical issues present in psychological practice scenarios.
  • Describe ways of dealing with practice issues in an ethical manner.
  • Understand theoretical research and its application to intelligence testing, personality testing, organisational and neuropsychological testing
  • Understand ethical issues in psychological assessment
  • Identify the role of the Australian Psychological Society and the National Registration Board

Changes since First Published

Date Description
30/01/2012 The Prerequisites and Corequisites were updated.