Outline

Overview

This study unit explores contemporary topics related to individual differences, such as cognitive and metacognitive abilities, personality traits, decision-making processes, and psychological assessments. Students are introduced to different theoretical models used in these paradigms and are expected to evaluate these theories critically based on the research evidence. Additionally, the unit covers various psychological testing methods, techniques, psychometrics, and applied aspects of the individual differences approach in fields like industry, education, clinical psychology, and policymaking.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	PSYC2012 and (PSYC2014 or PSYC2017)
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Sabina Kleitman, sabina.kleitman@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Sabina Kleitman, sabina.kleitman@sydney.edu.au
	Lisa Kim, lisa.kim@sydney.edu.au
	Simon Boag, simon.boag@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Final Exam See the 'Assessment summary' below and Canvas site for details.	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation See the 'Assessment summary' below and Canvas site for details.	25%	Multiple weeks	See Canvas for details.
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Comparative Review See the 'Assessment summary' below and Canvas site for details.	25%	Week 07 Due date: 07 Apr 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 05 May 2025	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = AI allowed ?

Assessment summary

Presentation: If you do not attempt the Presentation, you may apply for Special Consideration, from which the only outcome is a 'replacement'. If you do not attempt the Presentation and are not awarded Special Consideration, you will simply receive 0 for the Presentation.
Comparative Review: If you do not attempt the Comparative Review by the closing date, you may apply for Special Consideration, from which the only outcome is a 'replacement'. If you do not attempt the Comparative Review by the closing date and are not awarded Special Consideration, you will simply receive 0 for the Comparative Review.
Final Exam: If you do not attempt the Final Exam, you will need to apply for Special Consideration, from which the only outcome is a 'replacement', and the Replacement Exam will be completed in the University's Replacement Exam period. If you do not attempt the Final Exam and are not awarded Special Consisderation, you will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade for this unit, as the Final Exam is a compulsory assessment.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to the Course	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	Psychological Assessment I: Purposes of psychological testing	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Psychological Assessment II: Test Standards, Purposes and overview	Lecture (1 hr)
	Psychological Assessment III: Use, Reliability and Test Development Issues	Lecture (1 hr)
	Hands-on Approach to Psychometric Testing	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Psychological Assessment IV: Response Distortion in Psychological Testing	Lecture (1 hr)
	Psychological Assessment V: Assessment of job performance and job satisfaction	Lecture (1 hr)
	Assessment for Job Selection	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Indigenous Psychology (Invited Lecturer)	Lecture (1 hr)
	Psych Assessment VI: Applications	Lecture (1 hr)
	Indigenous Psychology	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Scale and Test Development I: Factor Analysis in Scale and test Development	Lecture (1 hr)
	Scale and Test development II: Caveats	Lecture (1 hr)
	Library Week. No in-person tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	Metacognition I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Metacognition II	Lecture (1 hr)
	Assessment readiness1: Content and discussions (Movie)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Individual Differences in Decision making	Lecture (1 hr)
	Intelligence and metacognition in education and industry	Lecture (1 hr)
	Metacognition, its measurement and contemporary issues	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Giftedness	Lecture (1 hr)
	Individual Differences in Imposter Phenomenon and other psychological constructs	Lecture (1 hr)
	Assessment readiness II	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Emotional Intelligence I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Emotional Intelligence II	Lecture (1 hr)
	Emotional Intelligence	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Theories of Personality I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Theories of Personality II	Lecture (1 hr)
	Hands-on Approach to Personality Assessment I	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Personality Assessment: Quantitative & Qualitative	Lecture (1 hr)
	Personality: Industry, Health, & Education	Lecture (1 hr)
	Hands-on Approach to Personality Assessment II	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Personality & Culture I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Personality & Culture II	Lecture (1 hr)
	Presentation I	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Personality Disorders	Lecture (1 hr)
	Personality Disorders: Assessment	Lecture (1 hr)
	Presentation II	Lecture (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

There is no attendance requirement for lectures or tutorials in this Unit of Study, however please note, the Presentation is held during tutorials, so to achieve the marks associated with the Presentation, you will need to attend the relevant tutorial, and failure to attend will simply result in forgoing the marks associated with the Presentation, there is no other consequence.

However, as noted in the Assessment table, the Final Exam is a compulsory assessment, so a student who does not attend it and is not approved to miss it will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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 intelligence, metacognition, decision-making, personality 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 literature reviews, including formulating a specific research question, creating search criteria/prompts for key terms, searching multiple relevant databases (e.g., PSYCInfo, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Medline, Elicit), integrating the search in reference software (e.g., ENDNote), summarising findings in a table, and evaluating and interpreting the meaning of the results.
LO6. understand how different research designs can be used to answer specific questions (e.g. understand how to interpret the results of cross-sectional and longitudinal research; how to interpret a lagged panel model)
LO7. display familiarity with different traditional and contemporary assessment techniques (e.g., standardised psychological tests, questionnaires, structured interviews, behavioural observations, rating scales, computer adaptive testing, anchoring vignettes, situational judgment test, confidence judgment paradigm, 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, metacognitive, and other individual differences 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, internet or AI content/claims about intelligence, personality, and other individual differences topics (e.g. critically evaluate sources and content)
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 psychological assessment assignment using American Psychological Association (APA) formatting conventions and referencing
LO15. prepare and present a presentation on current issues
LO16. participate in small and large group discussion
LO17. demonstrate knowledge of the way psychological theory and tests of intelligence, personality, and other constructs are applied in education and clinical settings.
LO18. demonstrate knowledge of the way that psychological theory and tests of intelligence, personality, and other constructs are applied in workplace environments, industry, and policymaking.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PSYC3015: Personality and Psychological Assessment

Semester 1, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links