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PSYC320-001 Psychological Tests & Measurements Class Lecture & Lab Combined Syllabus Lecture Class: R 7:20-10:00 PM (77713) Overall Course Instructor: Vias C. Nicolaides, M.A. Instructor Phone: 703-993-3706 Instructor Office hours: TR 2:00-3:00 PM, David King Hall 3077
Fall 2013
Lecture Location : AB 2026 Instructor E-mail:
[email protected]
Lab: W 6:00-7:50 PM (77714) & 8:00-9:50 PM (77715) Lab Location: IN 319 Lab/Teaching Assistant: Ashley Membere T.A. E-mail:
[email protected] Lab/Teaching Assistant Office hours: M 2:00-3:00 PM, David King Hall 3077 Course Overview and Goals: The course is a survey of testing and measurement in the area of social science, with particular emphasis in psychology. We will examine and apply principles of underlying theory and examine applications in clinical, business, and education settings. We will also cover, demonstrate, and engage in “hands-on” psychometric data analysis in SPSS. The class has also 1 hour and 50 minute lab in which you will apply principles from class and engage in the process of developing your own measure, write up a research paper describing your measure, and present it to class. Finally, this is a writing intensive course, which means that you will be having various writing assignments due both in class and in lab. Require reading for Lecture: Psychological Testing and Assessment: An Introduction to Tests and Measurement (8th Edition; McGraw-Hill) by Ronald Jay Cohen, Mark Swerdlik, and Edward Sturman. ISBN-10: 0078035309 | ISBN-13: 9780078035302 Required reading for Lab: Measurement Theory in Action: Case Studies and Exercises (1st Edition; Sage Publication) by Kenneth S. Shultz and David J. Whitney. ISBN-10: 0761927301 | ISBN-13: 978-0761927303 Please note, that the required readings are sources for information, and will also serve as sources for exam questions. Usually, I relate class material to the textbooks, but I do not focus solely on them. Class time is an opportunity to question, clarify, expand upon, apply, and challenge what you have read in the textbook. Therefore, reading the textbook before you come to class will allow class to go more smoothly, allow me to spend less time on lecture, and more time on discussion and other activities (which will be based on the readings). Finally, I will also be assigning some journal article readings throughout the semester. Class Grading: The final grade will be based on the below class and lab components: Individual in-class lecture writing assignments Individual in-class participation Psychological Scale Development Class Paper Psychological Scale Development Class Presentation Final Exam Lab Mini Assignments
15% 10% 20% 15% 20% 20%
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Individual In-class Lecture Writing Assignments: Almost every week I will be assigning the class with questions that everyone will then have to individually research and come prepared to class next week to discuss. In addition, you will be turning-in a 1-2 double-spaced page hard copy write up of your investigations. Late or electronic assignments will not be accepted, unless there is a justifiable reason for which you will miss class; one that has een communicated to me in advance! In true emergency situations I require some form of official documentation of your situation. Class Participation: Class attendance is required in all classes/labs! In a genuine emergency, I will allow an absence if you discuss the reason with me in advance of the class. Frequent late arrivals without explanation may also affect your grade, since you may miss important informtation. In the first class, I will describe the kind of discussion I want to have in class, and the type of participation I expect from each of you. “Participation” includes both thoughtful speaking (responding to the ongoing thread of discussion) and attentive listening (listening closely and critically as other students are speaking). Constructive criticism is encouraged and students are implored to not take others’ (or the instructor’s) feedback negatively (i.e., the wrong way). The purpose is to discuss, learn from one another, and develop as human beings. Thus, there is no place for private grudges in-class! At the end of each class I will be assigning points to students who were active and who made a significant contribution to discussion (quality of remarks rather than quantity). If after a class, you think you contributed to the discussion, write your name on a piece of paper and hand it to me on your way out. It is okay for you to use your computers during class for class-related purposes--for example, you may choose to have my slides on and taking notes. Or, a topic may come up in class and you may want to do a quick Internet search on it. But please refrain from using your computer to check email or do work for another class (or watch videos, or play games, or Facebook, Twitter...). Also please text only if absolutely necessary. The key is to stay focused on what is happening in the class, so that you participate and learn, and also to avoid distracting other students. Psychological Scale Development Class Paper & Presentation: You will be divided up into teams of 4-6 members and develop a psychological scale of your choice. I will encourage students to socialize in class and team up with students that have similar interests (as well as similar labs as to facilitate teamwork). The presentations should be between 20-30 minutes long and will be given in class towards the end of the semester. In addition, I require the active participation of everyone in the team and the presentation grade will be, for the most part, individually-based; whereas the research paper grade will be team-based. Regarding the latter, at the end of the semester you will also turn in a research paper/test manual concerning the development of a measure of your choice. Furthermore, teams will be asked to evaluate the contributions of their members on the team paper and presentation. This feedback will be considered when assigning course grades, primarily to adjust for any “free-riders”. In short, the paper must be in APA style and no less than 15 double-spaced pages. (not including graphs, references, figures, author information, title page). More information on the paper and grading criteria will be discussed in class and posted online. Final Exam: The final exam will be multiple choice and cover the entire course. Ample time to ask questions and receive answers will be given both in class and outside of class. Lab Mini Assignments: Every week you will turn in a lab assignment that seeks to facilitate your measure development project. Some assignments will be team-based and others individual based (see lab schedule). Late assignments will not be accepted, unless there is a justifiable reason for which you will miss class that has been communicated to me and the TA in advance!
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Technology expectations: All students are expected to maintain and regularly access their Mason e-mail accounts. If you are having your Mason mail forwarded to another account, please ensure that your Mason account doesn’t exceed the assigned limit, causing mail to bounce back to the sender. Disability accommodations: If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me early in the semester. If you have not already done so, contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 703-993-2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through that office. Please keep in mind that it might not be possible to grant last-minute requests for accommodations, so it important to make all arrangements well before the date when the accommodation is needed. Honor code: All students are expected to be familiar with, and abide by, the University Honor Code. As required by the Honor Code, all suspected violations will be reported. The instructor for this course reserves the right to enter a failing grade to any student found guilty of an honor code violation. Important dates: Last Day to Add Classes- Sept 3, 2013 Last Day to Drop- (No tuition penalty)- Sept 3, 2013 Last Day to Drop (33% tuition penalty)- Sept 18, 2013 Last Day to Drop (67% tuition penalty)- Sept 27, 2013 Enrollment: Every student is responsible for verifying correct enrollment. Graded work will not be returned to students who are not officially enrolled. Official Communications via GMU E-mail: Mason uses electronic mail to provide official information to students. Examples include communications from course instructors, notices form the library, notices about academic standing, financial aid information, class materials, assignments, questions, and instructor feedback. Students are responsible for the content of university communication sent to their mason e-mail account, and are required to activate that account and check it regularly." Disclaimer: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus and its content. Any changes will be announced orally and in writing.
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Schedule for Class: Date 8-29 9-5 9-12 9-19 9-26 10-3 10-10 10-17 10-24 10-31 11-7 11-14 11-21 11-28 12-5 12-10
Details Introduction to Our Class; Syllabus; Chapter 1 Chapter 2 - Historical, Cultural, And Legal-Ethical Considerations; Chapter 3 - A Statistics Refresher Chapter 4 - Of Tests & testing; Chapter 5 – Reliability Chapter 6 – Validity; Chapter 7 – Utility Chapter 8 – Test Development; Chapter 9 – Intelligence and its Measurement Chapter 10 - Tests of Intelligence; Chapter 12 - Personality Assessment An Overview Chapter 13 - Personality Assessment Methods; Chapter 14 - Clinical and Counseling Assessment Chapter 16 - Assessment, Careers, and Business Team Presentations/Class Lecture Team Presentations Team Presentations Team Presentations THANKSGIVING RECESS Last Day of Class and Catching/Summing Up Final Exam Day 7:30-10:15 PM Team Research Paper (with Test Manual) Due to Instructor Electronically
Schedule for Lab: Date Details 8-28 Introduction to Our Class; Team Formation; Course & Grading Description 9-4 Part 1: Introduction to Tests - Module 1 (Team Work) 9-11 Part 2: Test Preparation and Specification - Module 4 (Team Work) 9-18 Part 3: Item Writing and administration – Module 15 (Team Work); Part 4: Examining Subject Matter Expert Ratings – Module 6 (Individual Work); 9-25 SPSS I Descriptive Statistics; Central tendency & variability statistics; Graphs 10-2 SPSS II Regression Analysis; Exploratory Factor Analysis 10-9 Part 5: Exploratory Factor Analysis – Module 18 (Individual Work); SPSS 10-16 Part 6: Reliability Analysis – Module 5 (Individual Work); SPSS 10-23 Part 7: Criterion Related Validity – Module 7 (Individual Work); SPSS 10-30 Part 8: Construct Validity – Module 8 (Individual Work) 11-6 SPSS III Standardization; Group Differences; Statistical Significance 11-13 Part 9: Development of a Test Manual (All Modules- Team Work) 11-20 Exercises/SPSS Practice & Miscellaneous Topics 11-27 THANKSGIVING RECESS 12-4 Last Day of Class and Catching/Summing Up Final Exam Day 7:30-10:15 PM Team Research Paper (with Test Manual) Due 12-10 to Instructor Electronically
