Maryland in Europe

EDCP 615—COUNSELING I: Appraisal

Term IV—2001-02

Instructor: Donald K. Fromme, Ph.D

e-mail: dfromme1@yahoo.com

Office Hours: during breaks or by appointment

Location: Ramstein/Kapaun

Dates: Weekends: 23/24 Mar; 13/14 Apr; 27/28 Apr; 11/12 May; 0900-1600

 

Required Texts/Materials: 

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

2.      2. Zimmerman, M. (1994). Interview guide for evaluating DSM-IV psychiatric disorders and the Mental Status Examination. East Greenwich, RI: Psych Products Press;

3.      3. Assessment packet: The assessment packets will be distributed during the first week of class. Students- please bring a check made out to UMUC-E in the amount of $30 to class in order to pick up your assessment packet from the Instructor. Note—$30 cost.

Course Description: Students will learn how to evaluate the validity and reliability of tests, how to choose which instruments are likely to be most effective for which appraisal questions, and how to design an effective battery. They will learn to conduct DSM-IV diagnostic interviews and to conduct a Mental Status Examination. They will also become familiar with the administration and interpretation of representative appraisal instruments and to write a clear report that clarifies and responds to the referral question.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course the student should know/understand:

1.      how tests are standardized and how to evaluate their efficacy at answering a range of possible referral questions

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 conduct a Mental Status Examination

5.      how to conduct a diagnostic interview and determine an appropriate DSM-IV diagnosis

6.      how to put together an appraisal battery to answer specific questions

7.      what goes into an effective report of appraisal

Required Assignments: In addition to keeping up with assigned readings, students will be quizzed over the assignments for each of the last three weekends. The quizzes will consist of multiple choice questions designed to test the student’s knowledge over the assigned material and will constitute 30% of the overall grade.  Students will prepare a written critique and review of (at least) one test and be prepared to demonstrate the test’s administration and interpretation and present this review in class: 15%. Students will work in pairs, exchanging roles as interviewer and a ‘role-played’ client. They will each perform diagnostic interviews and Mental Status Examinations and prepare a report on the results, justifying the assigned diagnosis: 15%. Students will be given two referral ‘questions’ and develop appropriate test batteries, administer the tests to peers, score and interpret the results, and write reports that integrate the results and answer the referral question(s): 20% each.

 

Grading Policy: A = 90-100%; B = 80-89%; C = 70-79%; D = 60-69%; F = <59%.

Reports are graded 20% for an appropriate rationale for selecting instruments that answer the referral question; 20% for accurate test interpretations, 40% for meaningful integration of test results answering the referral question and 20% for organization, spelling, and grammar.

 

Other Policies: Attendance: Regular class attendance is expected. IF you should miss a class meeting, it remains your responsibility to obtain information concerning the material covered and upcoming assignments.

Make-up Examinations: If you must miss an announced quiz or exam for duty reasons or illness, you must provide documentary proof to be permitted to take a make-up exam.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism means “to present someone else’s work as one’s own.” Plagiarized reports, papers or exams will receive a grade of 0, whether copied in part or in whole. See the European Division Catalog for UMUC policy on academic dishonesty and plagiarism.

Confidentiality: Students must understand, protect, and be sensitive to protect testee’s right to privacy. All data collected during peer and self-administered activities are to be discussed only with other students in class or with the instructor.

The instructor reserves the right to make course revisions or modifications in order to individualize or improve the learning experience. Changes will be kept to a minimum and students will be given adequate notice.

 

Reading Assignments: Remaining Topics/Readings To Be Announced Later

Session --- Date ----------------------------Topic --------------------------------------------- Chapter

1 ------------3/23 am ----History and Principles of Assessment ---------------------- W/B 1

2. -----------3/23 pm ----Statistical Concepts in Assessment ------------------------- W/B 2

3. -----------3/24 am ----Reliability, Validity & Test Construction --------------------- W/B 3

4. -----------3/24 pm ----Ethical & Professional Standards ---------------------------- W/B 14

 

Instructor Biography: Don Fromme earned his Bachelors in Music Composition from Boston University in1961 and his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Iowa in 1966. From 1992-2001, he was Professor & Director of the Psychological Service Center at Pacific University’s School of Professional Psychology in Portland, Oregon, where he maintains his permanent residence. From 1967 to 1991, he held similar positions at Oklahoma State University. During sabbatical years he served as a Senior Fulbright Research Fellow at the University of Rome and as Visiting Professor at the University of Exeter, England and at the University of Carabobo, Venezuela. From 1965-67, he was a Lecturer with UMUC in the Far East & Europe.