Observation and Evaluation Methods (251012)

Learning Outcomes

•    Understand the importance of the role and status of Psychological Assessment in the context of other knowledge and practice of Psychology.
•    Understanding the logic behind the use of various methods, techniques and evaluation tools in many contexts of psychological practice. 
•    Acquire notions of how, why and what of Psychological Assessment, through their methods more relevant. 
•    Develop the necessary understanding to a thorough and critical study of the psychological assessment instruments. Understand the specificity of Psychological Assessment (and the methods and instruments that embody) in various stages of development (with children, adolescents, adults and the elderly).
•    Know how to administer, score and interpret some of the main instruments of psychological evaluation.

Study Program

1.    General Considerations about Psychological Assessment
1.1.    Definitions
1.2.    History of Psychological Assessment
1.3.    Fields of application
1.4.    Sources of error, biases and heuristics
2.    Evaluation in clinical context
2.1.    Characterization: goals and assessment process
2.2.    Selection of assessment methods
3.    Interview of psychological assessment
3.1.    Definitions
3.2.    Goals
3.3.    Advantages and limitations
3.4.    Assessment areas (with children, adolescents and adults)
3.5.    Types of interview
3.6.    Behavior of the interviewer
3.7.    Interview techniques
3.8.    Practical class with training of interview techniques (role playing)
4.    Mental Status Examination
5.    Scales and questionnaires of behavioral assessment
5.1.    Goals
5.2.    Advantages and limitations
5.3.    Examples of some scales (e.g. BSI, BDI, DASS21)
6.    Practical class on BSI, BDI and DASS21
7.    Direct observation
7.1.    Definitions. Assumptions
7.2.    Strategies of use
7.3.    Types of observation
7.4.    Recording techniques
7.5.    Advantages and limitations
8.    Psychological Assessment of Children and Adolescents
8.1.    Examples of various assessment instruments (NBAS, BSID, Griffiths, CBCL, TRF, YSR, STAIC, CDI, CONNERS)
8.2.    Practical class on CONNERS
9.    Intelligence Assessment
9.1.    Examples of assessment instruments (WISC III, WAISIII, CPMR, PMR)
9.2.    Practical class on CPMR
9.3.    Practical class on WISC
10.    Personality Assessment
10.1.    Examples of assessment instruments (MMPI, EPQ, NEO-PI-R, PANAS)
10.2.    Practical class on NEO-PI-R 
11.    Psychological Assessment in Positive Psychology
11.1.    Goals of the evaluation
11.2.    Examples of assessment instruments (scales on happiness, optimism, forgiveness, hope)
12.    Projective Techniques
12.1.    Assumptions underlying the projective tests
12.2.    Advantages and limitations
12.3.    Examples of projective tests (Family Drawing Test, Roberts’ Apperception Test for Children (RACT), CAT, TAT, Rorschach, Once upon a time,...)
12.4.    Practical class on Roberts Apperception Test
13.    Neuropsychological Assessment
13.1.    Goals
13.2.    Potential diagnostic and applicability
13.3.    Advantages and limitations
13.4.    Examples of instruments (Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery, Coimbra's Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (BANC), MMSE, MoCA, Rey Complex Figure)
13.5.    Practical class on MoCA and Rey Complex Figure
14.    Psychological Reports
15.    Ethics and deontology in the Practice of Psychological Assessment

Bibliography

MAIN REFERENCES: 

Gregory, R.J. (2011). Psychological testing: History, principles, and applications (6th ed.). Pearson Education Inc..
Guillevic, C. & Vautier, S. (2001). Diagnóstico e testes psicológicos. Climepsi.
Leal, I. (2008). A entrevista psicológica: Técnica, terapia e clínica. Fim de Século.
Maia, L., Correia, C., & Leite, R. (2009). Avaliação e Intervenção Neuropsicológica: Estudos de Caso e Instrumentos. Lidel.
Simões, M. R. (1984). A entrevista de avaliação com a criança: alguns elementos de justificação. Revista Portuguesa de Pedagogia, 18, 247-284.
Simões, M. R. (1993). Heurísticas, enviesamentos e erros inferenciais na mecânica da avaliação psicológica. Análise Psicológica, 2 (XI), 253-266.
Simões, M.R., Almeida, L.S. &Gonçalves, M.M. (1999). Testes e Provas psicológicas em Portugal: Roteiro de algumas questões que atravessam a utilização de instrumentos de / na avaliação Psicológica. In M.R. Simões, M.M. Gonçalves & L. Almeida (Eds.), Testes e Provas Psicológicas em Portugal (vol. II, pp. 1-11). APPORT.
Simões, M. (1995). Política e moral da avaliação psicológica. Considerações em torno dos problemas éticos e deontológicos. In L. S. Almeida & O. Ribeiro (Eds.), Avaliação psicológica: Formas e Contextos (Vol. III, pp. 155-162). APPORT.