| Effective Term: | 2026/20 |
| 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 Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| K4. | Describe key ethical principles related to psychological assessment and the use of psychological tests |
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| 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 |
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| S2. | Generate practical and appropriate recommendations in response to psychological assessment results in areas such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse |
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| S3. | Communicate psychological assessment results with a range of audiences |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Apply relevant knowledge and skills in the development of ethical and practical recommendations to real-life psychological problems |
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| A2. | Apply relevant knowledge and skills that demonstrate well-developed judgement and responsibility as a scientist-practitioner |
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| Other outcomes: |
| 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.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | Y - Present | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations. | Y - Present | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning. | Y - Present | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities. | Y - Present | FEDTASK 5
sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life | Y - Present |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | Professional Standards |
| 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% |
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| 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% |
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