Assessment in Counseling

Catalog description

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the principles, concepts, methods, and applications of assessing human experience and behavior for counseling purposes. Topics included for study in this course include the history and philosophy behind measurement and assessment in counseling, statistical concepts, and common assessment formats for measuring constructs such as personality, pathology, achievement and aptitude, and career interests. The required assignments focus on the themes of assessment critique, administration and interpretation of assessment results, and incorporating assessment results into work with clients and students. Additionally, by the start of the course, students will have submitted their IRB application for their thesis project. After approval from IRB, students will construct surveys in paper or digital format, including informed consent and debriefing forms. Students will then recruit participants. The use of digital platforms to collect data are acceptable. Types of data collection include running a focus group, qualitative interviews, or questionnaires. Middle and end of term will require analysis of findings. Once students have collected data, they should analyze the data and write a draft of the projected results and discussion in consultation with the instructor. Students will then present findings from their thesis projects at the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduate Research Expo.