Clinical Assessment

Unit code: APC6086 | Study level: Postgraduate
Credit points
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
Footscray Park
Prerequisites
N/A
Overview
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Overview

This unit of study provides students with training in the principles and practice of evidence-based psychological assessment in professional psychology. It provides the opportunity to develop competence in the assessment skills required to practice as a registered psychologist in Australia (PsyBA/AHPRA). Students will be introduced to case formulation that includes significant cognitive assessment, history-taking and the selection and administration of standardised psychological assessment tools. Tools include intelligence, memory, executive function and achievement tests, and personality assessment. Students will acquire professional report-writing skills and develop capacity to consider interprofessional perspectives. Successful completion of this unit prepares students for clinical placements both within the VU Psychology Clinic and community-based organisations.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Exhibit competence in clinical assessment skills commensurate with level of training;
  2. Administer, score and interpret core cognitive and personality assessment measures;
  3. Appraise and analyse the findings of a clinical assessment including client history and the results of intelligence, achievement, memory and executive functioning tests;
  4. Synthesise and explicate clinical assessment results for a variety of interprofessional audiences and purposes; and
  5. Evaluate and critically reflect upon psychological assessment and how it is used in a variety of settings and for different purposes, including the role of culture in the administration, scoring, interpretation and feedback of psychometric testing.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Assignment
|
Grade: 20%
Critical reflection on the influence of culture on the process and outcome of psychological assessments (1000 words)
Assessment type: Report
|
Grade: 40%
Formal assessment report requiring synthesis of assessment results and interprofessional considerations (Indicative: 2500-word length)
Assessment type: Other
|
Grade: 40%
Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) of the administration of an intellectual assessment tool. (20 minutes)

Students must pass all assessments to pass this unit to meet APAC accreditation standard 4.2.2 ii in relation to psychometric testing.

Required reading

RECOMMENDED TEXT: Groth-Marnat, G., & Wright, J.A. (2016) Handbook of psychological assessment (6th ed). John Wiley & Sons.

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):

Master of Applied Psychology (Clinical Psychology)
AMAL | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 2 years
Master of Professional Psychology
HMPP | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 1 year

Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course. VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this unit information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that unit information is current with the Student Contact Centre.

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