COUNSELING APPRAISAL

EDCP 615

TIME: SA/SU 0900 - 1600 LOCATION: Heidelberg

INSTRUCTOR: Robert A. Conquest, Ph. D.

PHONE: TBA

OFFICE HOURS: 15 min before class, during breaks or by appointment

E-MAIL: rconq@hotmail.com or rconques@ed.umuc.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will allow the graduate student to learn not only the purpose of appraisal, but how to do an effective one. They will also understand how to evaluate the standardization process of tests and how to know which instruments are likely to be most effective for which appraisal questions and clients. They will also become familiar with the administration, and interpretation of representative appraisal instruments which will allow them to both design an effective battery and write a clear report.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of the course the student should know/understand

1. the process of basic test standardization and what it indicates about the usefulness of the instrument;
2. how reliability and validity are determined and what are the acceptable parameters for various types of tests;
3. the principles of administration, scoring and interpretation of representative appraisal techniques and instruments in each area of appraisal;
4. how to put together an appraisal battery to answer specific questions;
5. what goes into an effective report of appraisal.

TEXTS: Walsh, W. Bruce & Betz, N. E. (2001) Tests and assessment. (4^th edition) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall

ABSENCES, LATENESS & LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Because we have so few meetings, it is imperative that you make every effort to attend each of them and to be on time. Excused absences are those for reasons of such import that you will have a written note signed by your mother, your command or other impressive people. In the case of late assignments the penalty will be 5 points per class meeting. DO NOT BE LATE!

N.B. Graduate students are required to purchase an "appraisal kit" as part of their tools for the course. They will be available the first day of class from the instructor. The cost is $30.00.

COURSE OUTLINE AND ASSIGNMENTS:

PAPER: Graduate-level students may have their choice of the following types of paper: (1) a critical evaluation of the available appraisal instruments in a given area (e.g. cognitive, personality, career, child, achievement, etc), including which ones would be better for which types of assessment; or (2) a report of an assessment battery, including the basis for the selection of the techniques used and the interpretation of results; or (3) design a re-standardization plan for any of the standard assessment techniques currently in use.