Psychological Assessment

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

   
?   Display Outline Guidelines      


Effective Term: 2025/05
Institute / School :Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Unit Title: Psychological Assessment
Unit ID: PSYCP6013
Credit Points: 15.00
Prerequisite(s): Nil
Co-requisite(s): Nil
Exclusion(s): Nil
ASCED: 090701
Other Change:  
Brief description of the Unit

Students will critically evaluate psychological assessment in areas such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse. They will develop an understanding of the strengths, limitations, and ethical use of specific assessment tools and methods in these areas. Students will also gain knowledge of the implementation and interpretation requirements of some of the available assessment tools via their application to real-world case examples. Finally, they will learn how to share assessment findings with clients.

Grade Scheme: Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)
Work Experience Indicator:
No work experience
Placement Component:
Supplementary Assessment:Yes
Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment
Course Level:
Level of Unit in CourseAQF Level(s) of Course
5678910
Introductory                                                
Intermediate                                        
Advanced                                                
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge:
K1.

Critically evaluate the historical, theoretical, and empirical foundations of - and advancements in - psychological assessment in areas such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse

K2.

Critically evaluate the strengths, limitations, and ethical use of specific psychological assessment tools and methods in the areas such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse

K3.

Demonstrate knowledge of, and skill in, the implementation and interpretation of specific psychological assessment tools and methods, including culturally-designed and validated assessment tools for First Nations clients

K4.

Describe key ethical principles related to psychological assessment and the use of psychological tests

Skills:
S1.

Apply knowledge of the implementation and interpretation of specific psychological tools and methods to real-life case examples in areas such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse

S2.

Generate practical and appropriate recommendations in response to psychological assessment results in areas such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse

S3.

Communicate psychological assessment results with a range of audiences

Application of knowledge and skills:
A1.

Apply relevant knowledge and skills in the development of ethical and practical recommendations to real-life psychological problems

A2.

Apply relevant knowledge and skills that demonstrate well-developed judgement and responsibility as a scientist-practitioner

Unit Content:

Topics may include:
1. Theoretical and applied issues related to psychological assessment and testing, including the process of psychological assessment in areas such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse
2. Basic measurement concepts and issues in psychological assessment, testing, and test construction in areas such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse
3. Ethical issues in psychological assessment
4. Administration and interpretation of well-established tests and approaches assessing depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse
5. Psychological assessment interviewing

Graduate Attributes:
Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.

FED TASK and descriptorDevelopment and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
Level
FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal

Students will demonstrate high-level skills to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups Students will be required to display (in person and/or online) high-level skills in-person and/or online in:

• Effective verbal and non-verbal communication via a range of synchronous and asynchronous methods

• Active listening for meaning and influencing 

• High-level empathy for others

• Negotiating and demonstrating extended conflict resolution skills

• Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams 

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 2
Leadership

Students will demonstrate the ability to apply leadership skills and behaviours Students will be required to display skills in: 

• Creating, contributing to, and enabling collegial environments

• Showing self-awareness and the ability to self-reflect for personal growth

• Inspiring and enabling others

• Making informed and evidence-based decisions through consultation with others

• Displaying initiative and ability to solve problems 

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity

Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complex and ambiguous environments, using their imagination to create new ideas Students will be required to display skills in:

• Reflecting critically on complex problems

• Synthesising, evaluating ideas, concepts and information

• Proposing alternative perspectives to refine ideas

• Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts through deep inquiry

• Proposing creative solutions in problem solving  

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy

Students will demonstrate the ability to work proficiently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks Students will be required to display high-level skills in: 

• Finding, accessing, collating, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and appropriately and securely sharing complex digital information at a high-level

• Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media 

• Using digital tools appropriately to conduct research

• Contributing proficiently to digital teams and working groups

• Participating in and utilising digital learning opportunities 

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset

Students will demonstrate the ability to think ethically and sustainably. Students will be required to display skills in:

• The responsible conduct of research

• Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in multiple global economic environmental and societal contexts

• Demonstrating commitment to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen

• Generating research solutions which are sustainable,ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable 

• Extending lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Demonstrate extended actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life.  

1 - Yes
 Learning Outcomes AssessedAssessment TasksAssessment TypeWeighting
1.K3, K4, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2

Demonstration of the implementation, interpretation, and integrated reporting of assessment results and recommendations based on mock case materials

Written report(s)

30-50%

2.K3, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2

Demonstration of the communication and interpretation of a case presentation, and a reflective practice task based on mock case materials

Video and Reflection Task

10-30%

3.K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, A1

Mastery of unit content: Demonstrate knowledge of psychological assessment principles, implementation and interpretation of specific tools and methods, and ethical considerations

Test(s)

30-50%

Adopted Reference Style:
APA  ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:
 Standard / Competency