Argosy University, Chicago
COURSE SYLLABUS
PP7370
Cognitive Assessment
Fall 2011
Faculty Information
Faculty Name: Arthur Preston, Psy.D.
Campus: Chicago
Contact Information:
Office phone number: 773-381-5040
E-mail:
Office Hours: By appointment
TA: Samantha Gehr;
Short Faculty Bio: Interests include psychological assessment, individual psychotherapy, medical rehabilitation.
Course Catalogue Description:
This course introduces the student to the major approaches and techniques for intellectual
assessment in children and adults. It covers principles of test construction and psychometrics,
the history of intellectual assessment, theories of intelligence, and methods of intellectual
assessment. Particular attention is given to the administration and interpretation of the Wechsler
intelligence tests. Alternative methods of intellectual assessment are also considered. The class may include a laboratory in which skills in administration and interpretation can be practiced.
Course Pre-requisites: None
Required Textbooks:
Jerome Sattler. (2008). Assessment of Children. Cognitive Foundations, 5th Edition.
Publisher: Sattler. ISBN: 978-0-9702671-4-6.
Kaufman, A.S. and Lichtenberger, E. D (2009). Essentials of WAIS-IV Assessment.
Publisher: Wiley & Sons, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-471-73846-6.
Required Purchases:
Purchase 2 record forms, 2 response booklets #1, and 2 response booklets #2 for the WAIS-IV.
Purchase 2 record forms, 2 response booklets #1, and 2 response booklets #2 for the WISC-IV.
These materials can be obtained from the library.
Test kits will be checked out from the ISPP library and returned as indicated in the course schedule below. Students are not allowed to pick up or deposit their test kits with the librarian outside of the assigned times noted in the class schedule.
Technology: Pentium III CPU/ Windows 98; 128MB RAM printer; Microsoft Office: Acrobat (full version); Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 (PC), 5.0 (MAC), or Netscape Navigator 4.08; Norton Antivirus.
Course length: 15 Weeks
Contact Hours: 45 Hours
Credit Value: 3.0
Course Objectives:
Course Objective / Program Goal / Method of AssessmentDemonstrate working knowledge of the administration and scoring of cognitive tests / Goal 1-Assessment / Assignments 1-4 and midterm, final
Demonstrate working knowledge of the interpretation the WAIS/WISC / Goal 1-Assessment / Assignments 1-4 and midterm, final
Demonstrate working knowledge of the interpretation of other Cognitive Techniques / Goal 1-Assessment / Classroom Discussion
Understand Psychometric Principles underlying standardized assessment / Goal 1-Assessment
Goal 4- Historical Context / Classroom discussion
All scoring Assignments
Examine issues of diversity in regards to test usage / Goal 3- Diversity / All assignments
Evaluate the use of quantitative versus qualitative test data / Goal 1-Assessment
Goal 5- Scholarship / Assignments 1-4 and midterm, final
Develop more advanced proficiency in conceptualization of case material / Goal 1-Assessment / Assignments 3, 4 and Final
Instructional Contact Hours/Credit
Students can expect 15 hours of instructional engagement for every 1 semester credit hour of a course. Instructional engagement activities include lectures, presentations, discussions, group-work, and other activities that would normally occur during class time. Instructional engagement activities may occur in a face-to-face meeting, or in the eclassroom.
In addition to instructional engagement, students can expect to complete 30 hours of outside work for every 1 semester credit hour of a course. Outside work includes preparing for and completing readings and assignments. Such outside work includes, but is not limited to, all research associated with completing assignments, work with others to complete a group project, participation in tutorials, labs, simulations and other electronic activities that are not a part of the instructional engagement, as well as any activities related to preparation for instructional engagement.
At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph above shall be applied for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.
Assignments:
- Administer 2 WAIS-IV & interpret 2 WAIS-IV protocols provided to you.
- Administer 2 WISC-IV & interpret 2 WISC-IV protocols provided to you.
It is the student's responsibility to secure 4 subjects for testing. Write-ups of protocols given to you must be typed, DOUBLE SPACED, and turned in as assigned. Late reports will not be accepted. Include the informed consent form provided to you with your administrations. Also, be sure to use a pseudonym in the report to protect the subject's anonymity.
- Complete midterm and final exams. The exams are in-class and require that you score and interpret a Wechsler protocol.
The use of interpretation software is not permitted on any assignments or exams. In addition, class exams must be hand written and not computer generated. No laptops are permitted during the exam.
Grading: The WAIS-IV and WISC-IV administration and interpretation assignments are evaluated along the dimensions of Good, Satisfactory, or Weak. Students who exhibit strong scoring skills and report writing abilities on these assignments, and thus receive a Good evaluation, may receive a higher course grade at the end of the semester.
Course Schedule:
Date / Topics / Readings / Assignments09/08 / WAIS-IV Administration / Check out WAIS-IV test kit.
09/15 / WAIS-IV Scoring / WAIS-IV Administration Manual Chapters 1, 2 & 3; Appendices A, B, & C. / In class WAIS-IV scoring exercise (bring administration manual to class).
HANDOUTS:
1. Scoring Exercise WAIS (bring to class)
09/22 / WAIS-IV Interpretation.
Report Writing / Lichtenberger Chapter 2 (How to Administer the WAIS-IV).
Sattler Chapter 19 (Report Writing). / HANDOUTS:
1. Indexes WAIS (bring to class)
2. Sample Report WAIS
3. Sample Report WISC
09/29 / Interpretation continued / Lichtenberger Chapter 3 (How to Score the WAIS-IV).
WAIS-IV Technical & Interpretative Manual pp. 12-17, & Chapter 6 (Interpretative Considerations). / In class WAIS-IV interpretation exercise (protocol AB).
HANDOUTS:
1. Indexes WAIS Profile Fluctuations (bring to class)
2. Clusters WAIS (bring to class)
3. Interpretation WAIS AB (bring to class)
10/06 / Interpretation continued / Lichtenberger Chapter 4 (How to Interpret the WAIS-IV). / Assignment #1 WAIS-IV administration and write-up due (include adult consent).
HANDOUTS:
1. Subtests WAIS (bring to class)
10/13 / Interpretation
Continued / Lichtenberger Chapter 5 (How to Interpret the WAIS-IV). / HANDOUTS:
1. Subtests WAIS (bring to class)
10/20 / Interpretation continued / Sattler Chapters 1 & 2 (Challenges in Assessing Children), & 6 (Administering Tests to Children). / Assignment #2 WAIS-IV administration and write-up due (include adult consent).
10/27 / Interpretation continued / Sattler Chapter 9 (WISC-IV Description), 10 (WISC-IV Subtests), & 11 (Interpreting the WISC-IV). / In class WAIS-IV interpretation exercise.
HANDOUTS:
1. Interpretation WAIS SR (bring to class)
11/03 / Midterm Exam / Return WAIS-IV test kit & check out WISC-IV test kit after exam.
11/10 / WISC-IV Administration & Interpretation / WISC-IV Administration Manual Chapters 2 & 3; Appendices A & B.
WISC-IV Technical & Interpretative Manual pp 5-18 & 99-109. / HANDOUTS:
1. Clusters WISC (bring to class)
11/17 / Brain Damage / Lichtenberger pp. 208-231 (A Neuropsychological Approach to the Interpretation of the WAIS-IV). / Assignment #1 WISC-IV
administration and write-up
due (include parental consent).
12/01 / Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation & Cultural/Racial Issues / Sattler Chapter 5 (Ethnic Minority Children).
Lichtenberger pp. 231-237 (Learning Disability Assessment and the WAIS-IV). / Assignment #2 WISC-IV
administration and write-up
due (include parental consent).
12/08 / Other Measures of Cognition / Sattler Chapters 3 (Ethical, Legal, & Professional Issues), 7 (Historical Survey & Theories of Intelligence), & 18 (Assessment of Intelligence with Specialized Measures).
12/15 / Final Exam / Return WISC-IV test kit after exam.
Grading Criteria
Grading requirements Grading Scale
Midterm Exam / 50%Final Exam / 50%
100%
A / 100 – 93
A- / 92 – 90
B+ / 89 – 88
B / 87 – 83
B- / 82 – 80
C+ / 79 – 78
C / 77 - 73
C- / 72 – 70
F / 69 and below
Library
All resources in Argosy University’s online collection are available through the Internet. The campus librarian will provide students with links, user IDs, and passwords.
Library Resources: Argosy University’s core online collection features more than 21,000 full-text journals, 23,000 electronic books and other content covering all academic
subject areas including Business & Economics, Career & General Education, Computers,
Engineering & Applied Science, Humanities, Science, Medicine & Allied Health, and Social & Behavior Sciences. All electronic resources can be accessed through the library’s website at www.auchicagolib.org. User IDs and passwords are distributed during orientation, but can also be obtained at the circulation desk, calling 312-777-7653, or by e-mail at .
In addition to online resources, Argosy University’s onsite collections contain a wealth of subject-specific research materials searchable in the Library Online Catalog. Catalog searching is easily limited to individual campus collections. Alternatively, students can search combined
collections of all Argosy University Libraries. Students are encouraged to seek research and reference assistance from campus librarians.
Information Literacy: Argosy University’s Information Literacy Tutorial was developed to teach fundamental and transferable research skills, including selecting sources appropriate for academic-level research, searching periodical indexes and search engines, and evaluating and citing information. In the tutorial, students study concepts and practice them through interactions. At the conclusion of each module, they can test their comprehension and receive immediate feedback. Each module takes less than 20 minutes to complete. Please view the tutorial at http://library.argosyu.edu/infolit/
Academic Policies
Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism: In an effort to foster a spirit of honesty and integrity during the learning process, Argosy University requires that the submission of all course assignments represent the original work produced by that student. All sources must be documented through normal scholarly references/citations and all work must be submitted using the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition (2001). Washington DC: American Psychological Association (APA) format. Please refer to Appendix A in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition for thesis and paper format. Students are encouraged to purchase this manual (required in some courses) and become familiar with its content as well as consult the Argosy University catalog for further information regarding academic dishonesty and plagiarism.
Scholarly writing: The faculty at Argosy University is dedicated to providing a learning environment that supports scholarly and ethical writing, free from academic dishonesty
and plagiarism. This includes the proper and appropriate referencing of all sources. You may be asked to submit your course assignments through “Turnitin,”
(www.turnitin.com), an online resource established to help educators develop
writing/research skills and detect potential cases of academic dishonesty. Turnitin compares submitted papers to billions of pages of content and provides a comparison report to your instructor. This comparison detects papers that share common information and duplicative language.
Americans with Disabilities Act Policy
It is the policy of Argosy University to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If a student with disabilities needs accommodations, the student must notify the Director
of Student Services. Procedures for documenting student disability and the development
of reasonable accommodations will be provided to the student upon request.
Students will be notified by the Director of Student Services when each request for accommodation is approved or denied in writing via a designated form. To receive accommodation in class, it is the student’s responsibility to present the form (at his or her discretion) to the instructor. In an effort to protect student privacy, the Department of Student Services will not discuss the accommodation needs of any student with instructors. Faculty may not make accommodations for individuals who have not been approved in this manner.
The Argosy University Statement Regarding Diversity
Argosy University prepares students to serve populations with diverse social, ethnic, economic, and educational experiences. Both the academic and training curricula are designed to provide an environment in which students can develop the skills and attitudes essential to working with people from a wide range of backgrounds.