Students of the Dutch bachelor’s programme, see Psychometrie
Entry requirements
Knowledge of the materials from the Methods and Statistics courses of the first year, with the additional requirement that participants should have completed at least one of these courses successfully.
Description
This course covers the following topics:
Introduction to psychometrics;
Scaling and standardisation;
Reliability;
Validity, factor structure and item analysis;
Item response theory;
Classification and predictive discriminant analysis;
Construction and revision of tests and questionnaires; and
Reporting on psychometric research.
Course objectives
A: Knowledge and understanding. Knowledge and understanding of the core concepts and principles of classical and modern test theory that are aimed at evaluating the psychometric properties of tests and questionnaires, in particular reliability and validity.
B: Application and interpretation. Learning which methods and techniques are required to investigate the psychometric properties of a test or questionnaire, when and how these methods and techniques can be applied, and how their results can be interpreted.
C: Skills. Acquiring skills in dealing with statistical software for classical and modern test analysis, factor analysis and discriminant analysis.
D: Professional practice. The acquired knowledge, insight and skills can be used to investigate substantive research questions about the psychometric properties of tests or questionnaires. Students are able to critically evaluate the applied methods and results of psychometric research.
Timetable
For the timetables of your lectures, workgroups, and exams, select your study programme.
Psychology timetables
Lectures Work group sessions Exams
Registration
Course
Students need to register for lectures, workgroups and exams. Senior students who failed (part of) the course, are required to enroll for the workgroups again. Instructions for registration in courses for the 2nd and 3rd year of the IBP
Examination
Students are not automatically enrolled for an examination. They can register via uSis from 100 to 10 calendar days before the date; students who are not registered will not be permitted to take the examination.
Registering for exams
Mode of instruction
8 2-hour lectures,8 compulsory 1-hour computer practicals and 8 compulsory 2-hour work group sessions
During the lectures at the start of the week the most important concepts are introduced and clarified. The ciontent of the lectures are included in the examination materials. Students re expected to prepare for the lectures by studying the relevant components of the textbook and workbook. The lectures contribute primarily to course objectives A and B.
In the computer practicals, students practise psychometric data analysis in the form of assignments from the workbook. Comparable assignments are part of the Practical Skills Test. Students are required to bring a USB stick to the practicals (as was also customary in the M&S courses of the first year). The practicals contribute primarily to course objective C. Students are expected to prepare for the work group sessions by completing a number of assignments from the workbook which they hand in before the work group session. These assignments are discussed in the work group session and are part of the attendance requirement. During the work group sessions students are also given the opportunity to practice with new assignments. In addition students are required to give a minimum of one presentation on the results of the practical during the work group sessions. The work group sessions contribute to all learning objectives.
Assessment method
The final grade is determined by combining the results of the multiple-choice examination (60%) and the Practical Skills Test (40%, only valid in combination with sufficiently active participation in the compulsory practicals and work group sessions).
The Institute of Psychology uses fixed rules for grade calculation and compulsory attendance. It also follows the policy of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences to systematically check student papers for plagiarism with the help of software. Disciplinary measures will be taken when fraud is detected. Students are expected to be familiar with and understand the implications of these three policies.
Reading list
Furr, R.M. (2018). Psychometrics: An introduction. Third Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN 9781452256801.
In line with earlier announcements, you can still also use the second edition of the book [Furr, R.M. & Bacharach, V.R. (2014). Psychometrics: An introduction. Second Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN 9781506389875].”Workbook Psychometrics (additional texts and assignments). You can order this workbook via Readeronline.
See also Blackboard for additional texts.
Contact information
Mathilde Verdam, Peter de Heus
psychometrics@fsw.leidenuniv.nl