SYLLABUS for SOSC 298C

TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS IN CAREER COUNSELING


Instructor: Dr. Gwen Sheldon

Social Science Program

CSU Chico, Chico CA 95929-0450

Office: Butte 745, 916-898-6174

Spring '97 Office Hrs: MWF 9-10am, TTH 2-3pm

FAX: 898-5986 E-mail: gsheldon@ecst.csuchico.edu

Go to Gwen Sheldon's Home Page

E-Mail Gwen Sheldon


Spring 1997

Class Meets: MWF 8:00-8:50am

MLIB 27 & CSUSAT CSU Chico,


Course Description:

To develop an understanding of the principles and methods of assessment for use in vocational counseling. Students will take, administer, score and interpret a variety of assessment tools.


Course Objectives. At the end of the course, students will:

  1. Understand how to develop an assessment program.
  2. Know the proper procedures for the selection, administration, scoring & interpretation of tests.
  3. Understand statistics sufficiently to evaluate tests and assessments for use.
  4. Use statistics correctly in the interpretation of test scores.
  5. Know and apply ethical standards for testing and assessment.
  6. Understand a variety of tests developed for use in vocational counseling including those measuring vocational development, personality, values, interests, aptitude, ability and work sampling.

Required Course Materials available through AS Bookstore

Text: Using Assessment Results for Career Development by Vernon Zunker (4th edition)

COPS Assessment - Purchase through AS bookstore when purchasing text. 0

Strong Interest Inventory (paid for by sending a $10 check made out to CSUC Career Planning-not the bookstore) Check must be mailed by Friday January 31 (Wednesday if possible).

One VHS video (purchase locally)

Recommended Text for sites: A Counselor's Guide to Career Assessment Instruments by Kapes, Mastie


Course Requirements % of Final Grade

4 Exams (15% each) 60%

Test Critique - Written and Oral Presentation 20%

One video of a test interpretation 15%

In class activities 5%

Test Critique - Each student will critique a different test/assessment tool. Requests for test topics will be taken the first week and allocated on a first come-first served basis. The written paper will be technical reflecting library research done on the test (as specified in instructions to come). It will include evaluation of the test based upon information given in technical manuals and written reviews. The oral presentation will be a 10-15 minute presentation of the major points of the written paper. Class discussion of the tool will follow.

Video Assignment - You will produce a video of you interpreting a test/assessment to a client. Content, not production quality of the video, is the focus. Video will be graded upon use of proper interpretation methods and ethics.

In class activities will include group activities such as administration of a test, scoring and interpretation of test scores. (Students alone at sites will be linked by telephone to other students.)


Class Schedule

Date Topic of lecture, discussion Read before class
Jn 27-31 Introduction, History of Assessment
Pros & Cons of Testing Z - Ch 1 & 2
Designing an Assessment Program
* Send $10 check made out to Career Planning by Friday
Fb 3-7 Test Selection, Evaluation & Administration AppendixB
Testing Ethics Tyler p.25-27
Reliability Tyler p. 33-37
Fb 10-14 Reliability & Norms Tyler p.37-42
Validity Tyler p.28-32
*Mail Completed Strong Interest Inventory by Wednesday
Fb 17-21 Exam 1
Standard Error of Measurement & SE of Differences Z - Ch 3, Tyler p. 36-40
Scale of score reporting
Fb 24-28 Test Interpretation Z - Ch 9
Career Status Tests-Bring My Vocational Situation completed
Interest Inventories - Bring COPS completed Z - Ch 6
Mr 3-7 Interest Inventories - Bring Strong II Interpretation
Mr 10-14 Interest Inventories
Exam 2
Mr 17-21 Personality Inventories Z - Ch 7
MBTI interpretation
Spring Break - No class March 24-31
Ap 2-4 Combining multiple measures Z- Ch 10
Values Inventories - Bring completed COPES Z- Ch 8
Ap 7-11 Ability & Aptitude Inventories-Bring completed CAPS Z- Ch 4
Ap 14-18 Achievement Tests Z- Ch 5
Integrated Batteries - Bring COPS, COPES & CAPS
Ap 21-25 Exam 3
Computerized Assessment & Work Samples Tests
Ap28-May2 Self Assessment - Z - Appendix C
bring completed Dimensions of Lifestyle Orientation
May 5-9 Disabled & disadvantaged client assessment, ADA, Film Z- Ch 11
* Video tape must be mailed/postmarked by May 5 Interpretation Video due
May 12-14 Cultural & Gender Bias in testing
16-May Final Exam 8-8:50am
Z=Zunker Text Book