Psychology 9900 Assessment - Theory and Practice - Fall & Winter 2025-2026

Sep 30, 2026

Course information for Western University Psychology 9900: Assessment - Theory and Practice (Fall & Winter 2025-2026), outlining instructors, class meeting times, format, and learning objectives for rigorous psychological assessment. The course introduces principles and scientific bases of assessment with emphasis on psychopathology, personality, and intellectual functioning, while addressing conceptual processes, measurement development, and the strengths and limitations of evaluation procedures across the lifespan.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Course Information

Instructors and Office Hours

Course Description

Course Format

Course Learning Outcomes/Objectives

Course Materials

Methods of Evaluation

Participation

Essay on a Current Issue in Psychological Assessment

Essay Presentation

Oral Exam

Written Take Home Exam

WESTERN UNIVERSITY Department of Psychology Psychology 9900 Assessment: Theory and Practice Fall & Winter 2025-2026 Course Information Instructors: Dr. Stephanie Dubois, PhD, C. Psych Assistant Professor [sdubois@uwo.ca](sdubois@uwo.ca) Dr. Adam T. Newton, PhD Assistant Professor [anewton9@uwo.ca](anewton9@uwo.ca) Office Hours: Time of Classes Location of Classes By appointment Thursdays 9AM to 12PM OR Thursdays 5PM to 8PM WH 20F Course Description The goal of this class is to introduce the major principles of, and approaches to, psychological assessment. We will focus on the areas of psychopathology, personality, and intellectual functioning. The course is designed to familiarize students with the scientific bases of rigorous psychological assessment and evaluation and promote critical thinking about assessment practice across the lifespan. To this end, the course will highlight the conceptual processes underlying sound assessment, measurement development, as well as the strengths and limitations of current assessment and evaluation procedures. The companion practicum (9901; restricted to clinical stream graduate students) is designed to give students the fundamental applied skills and knowledge needed to administer common psychological assessments. Psychol 9900 has a conceptual focus, grounded in empirical evidence, whereas the practicum is applied, with the goal of providing students with fundamental skills in clinical assessment. Class size is limited to 15 students. In the case that student demand exceeds course capacity, enrolment preference will be given to clinical stream graduate students. Course Format This course will be delivered in-person, face-to-face. Course Learning Outcomes/Objectives The course is designed to provide clinical psychology students with the basic theoretical, professional, and ethical knowledge and practical experience in psychological assessment. The course will include information necessary to critically evaluate various assessment instruments as well as the practical“how-to” of assessment. During both terms of this course, students will be introduced to professional, ethical, and practical issues in psychological assessment. This includes a focus on the development of skills involved in the administering and scoring of various psychological tests assessing intelligence, personality and other clinically important factors. Course Materials Textbooks 1. Required: Handbook of Psychological Assessment (6th Ed; Groth-Marnat & Jordan Wright; ISBN: 978- 1118960646) . *Please note: either the print or e-text are acceptable. Supplemental/Optional: Wright, A.J (2025) . Essentials of Culture in Psychological Assessment. John Wiley & Sons P&T, New Jersey 3. Supplemental/Optional: Assessment of Children: Cognitive Foundations and Applications (6th Ed; Sattler; ISBN: 978-0970267122) 4. Supplemental/Optional: Schneider, W. J., Lichtenberger, E. O., Mather, N., & Kaufman, N. L. (2018) . Essentials of Assessment Report Writing (2nd edition) . John Wiley & Sons P&T, New Jersey. 5. Optional: Finn, S. E., Fischer, C. T., & Handler, L. (2012) . Collaborative/therapeutic assessment: Basic concepts, history, and research. In S. E. Finn, C. T. Fischer, & L. Handler (Eds. ), Collaborative/therapeutic assessment: A casebook and guide (pp. 1–24) . John Wiley & Sons Inc. Other Required Readings: Weekly readings will be assigned. There is a lot of material and some of it will be difficult. However, the readings are the most important part of the course. It is essential that you take the time to absorb the material so that you are prepared to discuss assigned readings every week. Since the readings are unevenly distributed throughout the course, we recommend keeping an eye on what is coming up and reading ahead for the heavier weeks. All readings will be provided to you via OWL Brightspace. Methods of Evaluation | Evaluation | Dates/Deadlines | Grading Weight

FAQs

What is the main goal of Psychology 9900: Assessment - Theory and Practice?

The course introduces major principles and approaches to psychological assessment, focusing on psychopathology, personality, and intellectual functioning, and developing critical thinking about assessment practice across the lifespan.

What course format and class constraints are stated?

The course is delivered in-person, face-to-face, with a class size limited to 15 students and enrollment preference given to clinical stream graduate students if demand exceeds capacity.

How is student performance evaluated?

Evaluation includes participation (10%), demonstrated competency in WAIS or WISC (5%), an essay (20%), essay presentation (20%), an oral exam (20%), and a written take-home exam (25%).

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by Margaret