Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Principles of Assessment (Face-to-Face)

PSY 3430-01

Course: PSY 3430-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSY
CRN: 30784

Course Description

This course reviews the theory and application of assessment used in psychology and education. Content includes a review of the statistics used in assessment, measurement theory, test development, and the major instruments used to assess intelligence, achievement, and personality. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): PSY 3435 Prerequisite(s): PSY 1010 and PSY 2010 and PSY 3010 and PSY 3015 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C- Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

“Tests and Measurement for People (Who Think They) Hate Tests and Measurement, 4th Edition; Neil, J. Salkind & Bruce B. Frey. Sage Publications, ISBN: 978-1-0718-1717-9. (2023).

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes
  1. Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World –This course will address issues of measurement across cultures and contexts.
  2. Inquiry and Analysis –Students will show basic proficiency in utilizing the principles of psychological measurement through the completion of a class project and during in-class assignments.
  3. Critical Thinking –Students will think critically about applying principles of measurement during the creation of a new measurement instrument or via a psychometric evaluation of an existing measurement.
  4. Communication –Students will express ideas about psychometric principles and psychological assessment in writing and during class discussion.   
  5. Teamwork – Students will collaborate within groups to design and complete a class project 
  6. Quantitative Literacy –Students will enhance their quantitative skills by learning how to perform basic psychometric evaluation and statistical analyses.

Course Requirements

Students will complete 10, 5-question LSOE’s worth approximately 1 point each. 

 

There will be three Take Home Learning Activities. Each is comprised of multiple choice, True-False, short answer, or calculation problems. Students will be allowed to use class resources  to complete the learning activity. Exams will take place on Canvas and students may use their own mobile technology or their home computer or school computer. Access to SPSS will be required. 

 

The primary value of this course is skill development. As such, students will demonstrate their mastery of course content by completing a Final Take-Home Learning Activity, and by completing an in-class Final Skills Assessment. There are 13 In-Class Final Skills Assessment items on Canvas. On the day of the scheduled PSY 3435 Final Examination, students will be randomly assigned three of these 13 problems to complete and submit. Each is worth 20 points. Final Skills Assessment items include may require conducting and interpreting SPSS analyses, performing psychometric calculations, doing data organization, etc.). Students are encouraged to review all 13 In-Class Final Skills Assessment Items and practice completing the tasks. 

            

Attendance and Participation: (50 Points)

Class attendance will be randomly taken once per week throughout the semester. An absence will be recorded for each missed class for which a student did not make arrangements with the instructor beforehand, and did not follow up with the instructor afterward. Scoring will proceed as follows:

                1-2 Absences = 50 Points

                3-4 Absences = 30 Points

                5-6 Absences = 10 Points

                7+  Absences =  0 Points

 

 Office Hour Visits: (20 points)

Students will be required to attend a posted office hour at least two times during the semester. Should my posted Office Hours conflict with your schedule, I will plan to meet you in my office at a time that works for you. Each visit will be worth 10 points. 

 

Grades:

                Grades in the class will be given according to university policy and using standard grade cutoff 

scores.  Final grades in the course will be calculated from total points achieved from each of the following sources:

 

Take Home Learning Activities                                        150 pts (26%)

                3 @ approximately 50 points each

 

Take Home Final Learning Activity                                                100 pts (18%)

In Class Final Skills Assessment                                      60 pts (10.5%)

LSOE’s                                                                                  

                10 @ 1+ points each                                           10+ pts (2%)

 

Project Presentation                                                            200 pts (35%)

Attendance and Participation                                            50 pts (9%)

 

Office Hour Visits                                                                20 pts (3.5%)

Course Outline

 

 | Date | Class Activity/Reading Assignment
| Thursday August 28 | Introduction, Syllabus Review, Chapter 1, Why Measurement? An Introduction: Principles of Assessment; Discussion #1
| Tuesday, September 2 | LSOE #1, Model of Psychology, Definitions, Chapter 2: Levels of Measurement: Principles of Assessment; Discussion #1 Discussion #2
| Thursday, September 4 | Model of Psychology, Definitions, Chapter 2: Levels of Measurement: Principles of Assessment Discussion #2
| Tuesday, September 9 | LSOE #2 Chapter 5: Scores Stats and Curves; Discussion #3
| Thursday, September 11 | Chapter 5: Scores Stats and Curves; Discussion #3
| Tuesday, September 16 | LSOE #3 Chapter 5: Scores Stats and Curves; Discussion #3
| Thursday, September 18 | Chapter 5: Scores Stats and CurvesDiscussion #3,
 | Tuesday, September 23 | LSOE #4:  Scores Stats and CurvesDiscussion #3
| Thursday, September 25 | Exam #1 Laws Ethics and Standards; Discussion #4
| Tuesday, September 30 | Chapter 3: Reliability and Its Importance, Discussion #5
| Thursday, October 2 | LSOE #5 Chapter 3: Reliability and Its Importance; Discussion #5
| Tuesday, October 7 | Chapter 3: Reliability and Its Importance; Discussion #5
| Thursday, October 9 | LSOE #6 Chapter 4: Validity and Its Importance; Discussion #6a
| Tuesday, October 14 | Fall Break, No Class
| Thursday, October 16 | Chapter 4: Validity and Its Importance; Discussion #6b
| Tuesday, October 21 | LSOE #7 Chapter 4: Validity and Its Importance; Discussion #6c
| Thursday, October 23 | Exam #2 Chapter 6 Item Response Theory; Discussion #7
| Tuesday, October 28 | Chapter 14 Researcher Made Instruments: Discussion #8
| Thursday, October 30 | LSOE #8 Chapter 14 Researcher Made Instruments: Discussion #8
| Tuesday, November 4 | IRB Project Work
| Thursday, November 6 | LSOE #9IRB Project Work
| Tuesday, November 11 | Festival of Excellence, No Class
 | Thursday, November 13 | LSOE #10 Chapter 12 Picking the Right Answer-Classroom-Based Assessment, Discussion #10, Chapter 13 Building the Right Answer-Performance-Based Assessment; Discussion #11
| Tuesday, November 18 | Chapter 15 Truth and Justice for All; Discussion #9
| Thursday, November 20 | Project Work,
| Tuesday, November 25 | Thanksgiving Break No Class
| Thursday, November 27 | Thanksgiving Break No Class
| Tuesday, December 2 | Project Work Take Home Final Learning Activity available, Due Friday 10:00 a.m.
| Thursday, December 4 | LSOE #11 Project Work
 | Thursday, December 11 | 11:00-12:50 Project Presentations
 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL

Attendance Policy

            

Attendance and Participation: (50 Points)

Class attendance will be randomly taken once per week throughout the semester. An absence will be recorded for each missed class for which a student did not make arrangements with the instructor beforehand, and did not follow up with the instructor afterward. Scoring will proceed as follows:

                1-2 Absences = 50 Points

                3-4 Absences = 30 Points

                5-6 Absences = 10 Points

                7+  Absences =  0 Points

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.