Module: Psychological Measurement & Assessment

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Psychological Measurement & Assessment
Module Code	PSY1028 (ITS: PSYC205)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Psychology
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

To introduce the student to psychological measurement and assessment and to the principles and procedures used to estimate and evaluate the attributes of psychological tests.

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the principles of psychological measurement and psychometrics
2. Apply these principles to the development of a reliable and valid measure of a psychological construct
3. Discuss the psychometric adequacy of a psychological measure.
4. Discuss the ethical and professional issues in psychological assessment
5. Discuss emerging approaches to measurement and assessment.
6. In order to support these learning outcomes, students will also be encouraged to participate in psychological research projects within the school including those of staff, post-graduate students and undergraduate final year projects.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	12	Indicative syllabus
Laboratory	18	Development of measurement scale
Directed learning	20	Guided practical preparation activities and online activities
Directed learning	10	Participation in psychological research projects/activities to gain first-hand experience of psychological measurement and assessment
Assignment Completion	32	Preparation, writing of practical (background, method, results and discussion)
Independent Study	33	Self directed reading
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20969	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	50%	Examination Weight	50%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Pamela Gallagher	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Report(s)	Laboratory Report and experience in measurement and assessment	50%	n/a
Formal Examination	End-of-Semester Final Examination	50%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Importance of psychological measurement, psychometrics and assessment

Concepts in psychological measurement (e.g. Constructs, measurement theory, levels of measurement, scaling)

Classical test theory

Reliability: Types of reliability – internal consistency, test-retest, inter-rater reliability

Validity: Types of validity – face, content, construct, convergent and discriminant validity

Test design: Basic issues, measuring psychological constructs, types of psychological tests

Bias: Response bias and test bias

Measuring intelligence and personality

Introduction to Item Response Theory and Rasch models

Innovation in Measurement and assessment (e.g. sensing methods, machine learning and algorithm based approaches)

Ethical, societal and professional issues

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Coaley, K.: 2014, An Introduction to Psychological Assessment and Measurement, Sage, London,
Colin Cooper: 2023, An Introduction to Psychometrics and Psychological Assessment, Routledge, 9781032146171
Baker, F.B., Kim S.H.: 2017, The Basics of Item Response Theory Using R, Springer,
Cohen, R. J., Schneider W.J., Tobin R.: 2025, Psychological Testing and Assessment, 10th, McGraw-Hill, Maidenhead.,
Cooper, C.: 2012, Intelligence and Abilities, Taylor & Francis Group, Abingdon, 978-0415188692
Richard Michael Furr: 2021, Psychometrics, Sage Publications, Incorporated, 680, 9781071824078
Furr, R. M.: 2011, Scale Construction and Psychometrics for Social and Personality Psychology, Sage, London,
Furr, R. M., & Bacharach, V. R.: 2018, Psychometrics: An Introduction, 3rd, Sage, Los Angelos,
Goldfinger, K.: 2019, Psychological testing in everyday life: history, science, and practice, Sage, Los Angelos,
Groth-Marnat, G. Wright, A.J.: 2016, Handbook of psychological assessment, 6th ed., John Wiley and Sons, New Jersey, USA,
Lund, N.: 2010, Intelligence and Learning, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 978-0230249448
Maire, P.: 2018, Modern Psychometrics with R, Springer,
Miller LA, Lovler RL: 2019, Foundations of Psychological Testing: A Practical Approach, 6th, Sage Publications,
Rust J., Kosinski M., Stillwell D.: 2020, Modern Psychometrics, Routledge, 9781138638655

Articles:

Rauthmann JF: 2020, Special Issues: Behavioral Personality Science in the Age of Big Data., European Journal of Personality, 34(5), 591,

Other Resources

None