Intellectual Assessment

PSYC 6350-501-2168 (1530)

Fall 2016: August 21 – December 14, 2016
Thursdays 7:05-9:45 PM, Founders 061

Instructor: Amanda Goza, Ph.D.

Office: Counseling Center, Founders 054
Phone: (432) 552-2365
E-mail: goza_a@utpb.edu
Office Hours: Thursdays 5:00-7:00 PM and weekdays 9 to 5 by appointment

Description:
This course is an examination of the principles and methods of assessing intelligence in both
children and adults. It is designed to cover the basic skill sets needed to administer and interpret
individual intelligence tests. Two tests will be covered in depth: the Wechsler Adult Intelligence
Scale – Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth
Edition (WISC-V).

Prerequisites:
An undergraduate class in Tests and Measurements (e.g., PSYC 4351)

Required Textbooks:
Sattler, J. M. (2008). Assessment of children: Cognitive foundations (5th Ed.). San Diego:
Jerome M. Sattler, Inc.
Sattler, J. M. & Ryan, J. J. (2009). Assessment with the WAIS-IV. San Diego: Jerome M. Sattler,
Inc.

Optional Textbook:
Sattler, J. M., Dumont, R., & Coalson, D.L. (2016). Assessment of children: WISC-V and
WPPSI-IV. San Diego: Jerome M. Sattler, Inc.

Required Reading:
American Psychological Association (2010). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of
conduct. Retrieved from www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx.

Required Materials:
In order to administer the WISC-V and WAIS-IV, you will need to borrow WISC and WAIS kits
from the instructor, and you will also need eight sets of scoring materials for both the WISC and
the WAIS – one set for each practice test and one set for each volunteer examinee
administration you do. The cost of these materials is $50. You will be responsible for paying a
$50 lab fee to cover the cost of these materials. You may pay by cash or check payable to me
(Amanda Goza) or to UTPB.

Student Learning Goals:

 To become proficient in administering the WAIS-IV and WISC-V
 To establish rapport with examinees
 To use test materials responsibly and ethically
 To follow standardized testing procedures
 To properly score tests
 To interpret test results
 To communicate test findings via report writing
 To accept and provide constructive criticism and suggestions
 To make recommendations based on examinee needs
Measurable Outcomes:
 Knowledge of intellectual assessment principles as demonstrated by class
participation, performance on test administration and scoring, and quality of written
reports.
 Ability to correctly administer the WAIS-IV and WISC-V as demonstrated by in-
class practice administrations and live administrations to volunteer examinees.
 Ability to accurately score WAIS-IV and WISC-V tests as demonstrated by
scoring of 2 practice and 6 examinee administrations.
 Proficiency in interpreting the WAIS-IV and WISC-V as demonstrated by class
participation and written reports of completed tests.

Course Expectations:
This course will be discussion-oriented and collaborative. Success in this class will rely on your
ability to engage in discussions about the tests under consideration and to demonstrate
emerging skill in administering tests both in class to the instructor and your classmates and
outside of class to community volunteers. Class time will be split between lecture and hands-on
practice.

Attendance and Participation:

Regular attendance and in-class participation are required for successful completion of this
course. You will be participating in a number of class activities that will enrich your thinking
about intelligence testing. Most of these activities require students to perform tasks both
individually and as a team. Your active participation in group activities and in-class discussion is
essential. Most activities cannot be made up at a later date. Consequently, attendance in class
is required. Students are expected to have completed assigned readings prior to the class
period in which they will be discussed.

Student Behavior:
The highest personal and professional standards are expected of you as emerging
professionals in the field of psychology. Students are expected to comport themselves in
accord with the objectives of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin and the professional
ethics of the American Psychological Association. Academic integrity and honesty will
characterize all of your work. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and instances of
such behavior will be handled in accordance with UTPB’s policy on academic dishonesty.

Cell Phones and Electronic Devices:

Please do not text, talk on cell phones, or browse the Internet while in class, unless you are
working on a class-related project during designated times with my permission. You may use
laptops or tablets to take notes at my discretion, as long as you are not disruptive as you are
using them – and as long as you are still able to pay attention. I can ask you not to use an
electronic device at any time. If, for some reason, you must use a certain device (like to answer
a phone call), please leave the room.

Students with Special Needs:

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have
emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case
the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. To
request academic accommodations for a disability, contact Leticia Madrid, Director of the PASS
office in the Mesa Building Room 1160, at (432) 552-2631 or madrid_l@utpb.edu. Students are
required to provide documentation of disability to the PASS Office prior to receiving
accommodations. The PASS Office refers some types of accommodations requests to the
University Counseling Center, which provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological
disabilities. For information about testing, contact Suzanne Rathbun in the University
Counseling Center at (432) 552-2365 or rathbun_s@utpb.edu.
Course Requirements:

Attendance and Participation: You will be participating in number of in-class activities. The
most effective way of learning about intelligence testing is by practicing, so you will be evaluated
on your level of participation in class activities – particularly on practice test administrations.
Consequently, you will also be graded on your attendance in class.

Practice Administrations: You will practice administering the WISC-V and WAIS-IV to your
classmates. Your classmates and the instructor will give you feedback on your administration of
each test. This activity counts for 10% of your grade. You will also administer parts of the
WISC-V and WAIS-IV to the instructor, who will score your performance and provide you with
feedback on this administration. This activity counts for 10% of your grade. You will not be able
to move on to your test administrations with community volunteers until you have successfully
completed these steps.

Live Administrations: You will conduct one WAIS-IV examination and one WISC-V
examination live for the instructor. Dates for these examinations are included in the course
schedule. This exercise is mandatory and your performance on these presentations counts for
30% of your grade.

Examinee Administrations: You will be required to administer a total of six tests to six
examinees: 3 adults and 3 children. You will write reports on two of these administrations (one
adult and one child report). All test records, including informed consent forms will be turned in to
the instructor. Record forms will be graded for adherence to standardized procedures and
overall accuracy. Each of these completed record forms will count for 5% of your grade.

Test Kits: You will check out test kits from me. We have a limited number of test kits, so
you will need to share with your classmates. You will be responsible for each test kit you
check out and its contents while these items are in your possession. (Each complete test
kit costs over $1000 to replace.) If a test kit you check out is returned incomplete,
damaged, or in any way altered, you will be held responsible. Therefore, it is highly
recommended that upon checking out a test kit, you should immediately check the
contents of the kit, and thereafter you should be very careful with the test kits.

Examinees: All examinees must be volunteers. You are responsible for obtaining
examinees. It is recommended that you do not test family members of close friends. You
may not test a spouse, family member, or close friend for a test that requires you to write
a report. You may not test another student in this class. You may not test your own
children; however, you may test the children of your classmates. You may not test
children at a school where you teach. You should not test children who may be
evaluated for a learning disability or a gifted program, as their participation could
significantly impact further testing. You may not test current or past clients. When testing
an adult, you must have the adult sign an informed consent form, and when testing a
child, you must have the child’s parent sign an informed consent form. Informed consent
forms must be turned in to the instructor. You are not authorized to present yourself as a
representative of UTPB or the Psychology Department for any purposes other than
those associated with this course. You should disclose to all volunteers that you are
enrolled in an Intellectual Assessment course and learning to administer intellectual
assessments. You should tell all volunteers before testing begins that you cannot
disclose any results to them, as you are simply learning how to administer the test and
are not sure how reliable the results will be. You are to make no recommendations for
psychological or medical treatment to the examinee or parents on the basis of your
evaluation. (You should, however, make such recommendations in your written report to
me.) You are not allowed to go into a school system, hospital, training institution, or any
other organization without my approval.
 Ethics: To protect the anonymity of examinees, designate examinees on the test
booklets only by their first name and the first initial of their last name, or use a
pseudonym. The material that you obtain from your examinees is confidential and should
be treated as such. You should not discuss your examinees or any of their test results
outside of class. In addition, you should be careful to maintain the integrity of the test kits
and the security of the information included in the test kits and manuals. You are not to
allow people unconnected with this class access to the test kits or manuals; to do so
would be an ethical breach.

Assessment Reports: You will write reports on two of your six WAIS-IV and WISC-V
administrations. You will write up your findings as you would if you were writing a report for a
school, court, or other organization, following the format of the sample report given to you by
your instructor. The instructor will evaluate, critique, and grade your reports. Each of these
reports will count for 10% of your grade.

Exams: There are no traditional exams for this class.

Grading:

Activity Points/Percentage
2 Student Practice Administrations (5% each) 10%
2 Administrations to Instructor (5% each) 10%
2 Live Test Administrations (WAIS-IV and WISC-V) (15% each) 30%
6 Completed Administration and Scoring forms (WAIS-IV and WISC-V)
30%
(5% each)
2 Assessment Reports (WAIS-IV and WISC-V) (10% each) 20%
Total 100%

Schedule
Reading assignments should be completed before the date listed on the schedule. On the list below, Assessment of Children
refers to the textbook Assessment of children: Cognitive foundations. WAIS refers to the textbook Assessment with the WAIS-IV.
WISC refers to the textbook Assessment of children: WISC-V and WPPSI-IV.

Date Topic Practice Assignment

8/25 Introduction to course and
review of syllabus
9/1 Introduction to Assessment Reading
of Intelligence Assessment of Children Chapter 7
9/8 Development and Reading
Measurement of Assessment of Children Chapter 8
Intelligence
9/15 Guidelines for Test Reading
Administration WAIS Chapter 1
WISC Chapter 1 (optional)
9/22 Description of WAIS-IV Instructor demonstration Reading
WAIS-IV Subtests Student practice administration WAIS Chapter 2
Assessment of Children Chapter 14
9/29 WAIS-IV Subtests – Student practice administration Reading
Administration and scoring (graded – 5%) WAIS Chapter 3
Assessment of Children Chapter 15 (through
page 555)
10/6 WAIS-IV Interpretation Practice WAIS administration with Reading
instructor (graded – 5%) WAIS Chapter 4
Assessment of Children pp. 555-564
 Begin conducting WAIS administrations
with volunteer examinees
10/13 Description of WISC-V Instructor Demonstration Reading
WISC-V Subtests Student practice administration Assessment of Children Chapter 9
WISC Chapter 2 (optional)
10/20 WISC-V Subtests – Student practice administration Reading
administration and scoring (graded – 5%) Assessment of Children Chapter 10
WISC Chapter 3 (optional)
Live WAIS administrations on 10/22
(15%)
10/27 WISC-IV Interpretation Practice WISC Administration with Assessment of Children Chapter 11
instructor (graded – 5%) WISC Chapter 4 (optional)
3 scored WAIS administration records
due (15%)
Begin conducting WISC administrations
with volunteer examinees
11/3 Report Writing In-class practice and review of test Reading:
administration, scoring and Assessment of Children Chapter 19
interpretation WAIS Chapter 5
WISC Chapter 8 (optional)
11/10 Report Writing – making In-class review of examinee test WAIS-IV Report Due (10%)
individualized administration, scoring and Schedule meeting with instructor
recommendations interpretation Live WISC administrations on 11/12
(15%)
11/17 Report Writing Critique of written reports Individual meeting with instructor to
review report writing
3 scored WISC administration records
due (15%)
11/24 THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS
12/1 Report Writing Critique of written reports WISC-V Report Due (10%)
Schedule meeting with instructor
12/8 Review of Ethical Issues in Reading
Intelligence Testing APA Ethical Code (2010)
Individual meeting with instructor to
review 2 nd report