509299 - TESTS AND MEASUREMENT METHODS

courses

ID:

509299

Duration (hours):

54

CFU:

SSD:

PSICOLOGIA CLINICA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 09/01/2026)

Course Objectives

Learning Objectives The course aims to provide knowledge, skills and guidance in the field of psychometric measurement, with particular reference to the theoretical foundations of measurement in psychology and the psychometric properties of psychological measurement instruments. Expected Learning Outcomes At the end of the course, students will be able to: a) analyze the psychometric characteristics of psychological tests; b) choose the most appropriate instrument for their measurement purposes; c) administer some psychological self-report questionnaires; d) compute scores (scoring); e) interpret and report the results of the measurement

Course Prerequisites

Understanding the course contents requires students to already possess knowledge related to basic statistical data analysis

Teaching Methods

The course is conducted through in-person lectures. For each CFU (25 hours), the following are scheduled: - 4 hours of delivered teaching - DE (content presentation through slides, scientific papers, and videos); - 2 hours of interactive teaching - DI; - 19 hours of self-study on the bibliography texts, provided slides, and indicated scientific articles.
To facilitate inclusive teaching, the instructor offers up to two hours per week for office hours, by appointment.

Assessment Methods

The exam can be taken by the student in two alternative ways: - Written exam, consisting of 22 multiple-choice questions (1 point for each correct answer) and 3 open-ended questions, one of which is on the book of choice, evaluated based on comprehensiveness, relevance, and clarity of exposition for up to 9 points (cut-off for passing = 18 points), with the possibility of requesting an additional oral exam (upon request within 2 days of the publication of the written exam results by emailing the instructor) in the following circumstances: a) a failing grade, but not below 16, on the written exam; b) a passing grade, but not above 26, on the written exam; - Oral exam (upon request 3 days before the exam by emailing the instructor), consisting of 3 questions, the first of which is on a topic of the student's choice. An additional oral exam cannot be required under any circumstances. For the academic year 2025/2026, the exam, whether oral or written, covers the content of the slides uploaded on the KIRO portal, the mandatory text, and the chosen text. It is not advisable to refuse the obtained grade more than once. The student is required to accept the grade achieved in the last exam session taken.

Texts

Mandatory for everybody C. Chiorri, Teoria e tecnica psicometrica - Costruire un test psicologico, McGraw-Hill Education (Italy), 2023.

The parts of the book that will NOT be included in the exam are:
- Chapter 6
- All “In-depth” boxes, except for In-depth Box 7.5 (Adapting a test into a language different from the original)
- All software tools

- Scientific psychometrics and psychological assessment; - The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Defining the construct, the content domain, and operationalization; - The COPE-NVI, and the fundamental characteristics of items; - The Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R), and the preliminary evaluation of the test and its items; - The PTSQ, and Classical test theory and factor analysis; - The Personal General Well-Being Inventory (PGWBI) and Test validity; - The DERS and the ERQ, and Test reliability; - SF-36 and SF-12, and Standardization and interpretation of scores; - The Beck Depression Inventory–II; - The CBA-VE; - ...
The slides used for classroom teaching are available and downloadable from the KIRO online platform. Students will also find the materials for exercises on the KIRO platform.
The course contents will be addressed considering the ethical and deontological principles governing psychological assessment and data treatment. These will be described in detail by the instructor both in general terms and with examples and practical exercises (e.g., writing informed consent).
The program does NOT differentiate between attending and non-attending students. However, due to the breadth of contents and classroom works, attendance is highly recommended.