Course Title: Psychological Assessment and Individual Differences

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Psychological Assessment and Individual Differences

Credit Points: 12.00

Important Information:

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.


Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BESC1433

City Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016

BESC1433

City Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022

BESC1434

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014

BESC1435

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014

BESC1436

City Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014

Course Coordinator: Dr Christopher Powell

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7710

Course Coordinator Email: chris.powell@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 202.04.062-1


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

System Enforced Pre-requisites (Enforced by SAMS)


Course Description

The course has two purposes: (1) to compare and contrast different theoretical models of individual differences, and (2) to introduce students to a range of assessment procedures, ethical issues, and professional issues related to psychological assessment. Through lectures, small-group discussions, readings, and writing essays and reports, students are encouraged to: evaluate their own perspectives on individual differences in terms of established concepts; consider the implications of these concepts for their own development; select and evaluate assessment instruments by applying their knowledge of psychometric theory; and demonstrate an understanding of a range of ethical and professional issues related to psychological assessment.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the development of the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP154 Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology):

  • PLO 1:  Understand appropriate and relevant fundamental and applied evidence based knowledge and undertake lifelong learning to improve personal and professional practice 
  • PLO 2: Demonstrate a capacity to employ a variety of approaches and procedures to research to permit judgements and decisions to be supported by appropriate evidence that places practice within a global and local context.
  • PLO 3:  Applies knowledge to diagnose and solve problems in a wide range of diverse situations, with an ability to work independently or with others and incorporate the analysis of evidence based scientific literature to solve psychological problems.
  • PLO 4: Engage in dialogue with a diverse range of people and communicate in a broad range of forms (written, electronic, graphic, oral) to meet the circumstances of the situation and the capabilities of the audience.
  • PLO 5: Maintains tolerance and respect for individuals and  groups from diverse backgrounds, holding diverse values, adhering to professional expectations and demonstrating ethical behaviour.


Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Outline biological, psychological, and social perspectives surrounding individual differences.
  2. Evaluate the trait perspective on personality.
  3. Describe the relationship of personality with culture and political orientation.
  4. Describe diverse approaches to assessing individual differences.
  5. Describe the process of developing valid and reliable measures for psychological assessment.
  6. Compare and contrast different approaches to measuring intelligence.
  7. Evaluate the degree to which individual difference measures predict important life outcomes.


Overview of Learning Activities

Engagement with lecture and tutorial material will be essential to meeting course objectives and fulfilling assessment tasks. Lectures will be presented online, and tutorials will be either face-to-face or online. These sessions may involve discussion, critical appraisal, class presentations, and problem solving.

There will be three assessment tasks: an essay, a literature review, and quizzes. These assessments may include use of online technology, and require students to demonstrate critical analysis of the core principles presented in the course.


Overview of Learning Resources

The learning resources associated with this course will include targeted readings taken from a range of both primary and secondary sources. Material chosen will be provided in digital form or weblinks. Lecture material will be delivered online. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment 1: Essay
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 & 2

Assessment 2: Literature review
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 7

Assessment Task 3: Quizzes
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7