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Unit of study_

PSYC3015: Personality and Psychological Assessment

2023 unit information

This unit of study addresses current issues in personality, psychological testing, intelligence, and individual differences. Students are introduced to different theoretical models used in personality, intelligence, emotional intelligence, and metacognition and expected to critically evaluate these theories based on the supporting research evidence. This unit also presents different psychological testing techniques and methods.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Science

Study level Undergraduate
Academic unit Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
? 
PSYC2012 and (PSYC2014 or PSYC2017)
Corequisites:
? 
None
Prohibitions:
? 
None
Assumed knowledge:
? 
None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the different major purposes and applications of psychological tests
  • LO2. understand the history and content of the main theoretical approaches to personality, intelligence or/and metacognition (trait theories, psychophysiological theories, interpersonal theories and evolutionary theories)
  • LO3. understand and be able to define and describe key concepts in metacognition. decision making, personality, intelligence, and emotional intelligence
  • LO4. understand the way that personality, intelligence, and metacognition predict valued life consequences such as successful aging, health, educational and workplace success
  • LO5. perform a systematic review, including formulation of a specific research question, creating search criteria of key terms, searching multiple relevant databases (e.g. PSYCInfo, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Medline), integrating the search in ENDNote, summarising findings in a table, and interpreting the meaning of the results
  • LO6. understand how different research designs can be used to answer specific questions (e.g. how to interpret a lagged panel model for determining the direction of causation)
  • LO7. display familiarity with assessment development techniques such as computer adaptive testing (CAT), anchoring vignettes, situational judgment test, the confidence judgment paradigm, and the overclaiming technique
  • LO8. respect and use critical and creative thinking, sceptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to solve problems related to thought and behaviour
  • LO9. evaluate psychological tests using the criteria outlined in the current version of the test standards
  • LO10. form a reasoned argument about current issues in intelligence, personality and metacognitive research
  • LO11. critically evaluate the administration and use of psychological tests, and identify their strengths and weaknesses (e.g. individually administered intelligence tests, emotional intelligence tests)
  • LO12. critically evaluate popular media or internet claims about personality and intelligence (e.g. critically evaluate internet sources that discuss gender differences in intelligence)
  • LO13. understand, follow and be able to evaluate ethical use of psychological tests and testing, research and the research process, and information use
  • LO14. write a systematic review paper in using American Psychological Association (APA) formatting conventions
  • LO15. prepare and present a presentation on current issues
  • LO16. participate in small and large group discussion
  • LO17. demonstrate knowledge of the way psychological tests of personality, intelligence, and other constructs are applied in education
  • LO18. demonstrate knowledge of the way that psychological tests of personality, intelligence, and other constructs are applied in workplace environments.

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

There are no availabilities for this year.
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2020
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Remote

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

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