PSY537 Child Assessment (8)

This subject provides a comprehensive introduction to the psychological assessment of children and adolescents. It is designed to assist students to develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the assessment of clients. Students will become familiar with the current theoretical and empirical foundations of child psychological assessment, and the application of these theories and research findings to the development of empirically-based assessment practice. Contemporary practice in the assessment of cognition, behaviour, emotions, and other psychological constructs will be explored, and popular psychological measures of these functions will be critically evaluated. Students will be instructed in the integration of assessment data into clinically-useful reports. Different approaches to psychological assessment will be compared and evaluated. Ethical and professional issues in psychological assessment will be discussed.

Availability

* Offering has a residential school. Please view following information for further details.

Session 1 (30)
Online *
Bathurst Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: PSY537. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Psychology

Enrolment Restrictions

Available to students in the Master of Clinical Psychology

Assumed Knowledge

Unergraduate studies in cognition and psychological measurement.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical and empirical foundations of psychological assessment;
  • be able to select assessment methods and measures appropriate to the needs of the client;
  • be able to administer, score and interpret the results of major measures of child and adult intelligence, achievement and other cognitive domains;
  • be able to effectively interpret and communicate the results of a psychological assessment;
  • be able to critically evaluate psychological tests and child and parent questionnaires; and
  • be able to identify ethical issues in the psychological assessment of children and adolescents.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • Theories, models and methods in child psychological assessment.
  • Intellectual assessment: WISC-IV, SB-V, and other test batteries
  • Assessment of academic achievement: WIAT-II, YARC and other measures
  • Assessment of language, memory and other cognitive functions: CELF-4, CMS and other measures
  • Assessment of behavioural, emotion, and personality in children and adolescents: ASEBA, BASC-2, and other measures
  • Observational methods
  • The nature and assessment of developmental cognitive disorders
  • Report writing

Indicative Assessment

The following table summarises the assessment tasks for the online offering of PSY537 in Session 1 2019. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated and can also differ to suit the mode of study (online or on campus).

Item Number
Title
Value %
1
Wisc administration
20
2
Psychological assessment report
40
3
Take-home examination
40
4
Compulsory residential school
0

Residential School

This subject contains a 2.5 day Compulsory Residential School.

The purpose of the residential school is to provide training in specific skills required for the cognitive, behavioural and emotional assessment of children and adolescents. Activities include demonstrations, role play, direct instruction and feedback.

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: October 2020. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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