APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/2014

BIK 2925 Psychological testing in the work place

Responsible for the course
Ole I Iversen, Øyvind Martinsen

Department
Department of Leadership and Organizational Behaviour

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
7,5

Language of instruction
Norwegian

Introduction
The course gives participants a basic introduction to how the tests can be used in the workplace, both in selection and development. There will be an introduction to the necessary statistical concepts and methods. Different selection methods and their reliability will be reviewed. As a background for understanding and predicting human behaviour, an introduction will be given to the most important approaches to personality and intelligence. The course will also examine the use of tests in practice, and illuminate the ethical aspects of test use. Passing the course will be required to attempt the certification exam at Det Norske Veritas (DNV) on the use of psychological tests in the workplace.


Learning outcome
The course will help participants to work using psychological tests in a competent and responsible manner. In addition to credits from BI, participants who complete the course will also be issued with a competency certificate from Det Norske Veritas (DNV).

Knowledge
After completing the course participants will be able to explain key statistical concepts and methods of test psychology. Participants will also have basic knowledge of central theories of personality and intelligence, and how this can be measured. They should also know the requirements for competent test use, as well as the requirements that should be addressed when psychological tests are used in the workplace.

Skills
After completing the course, the participants are able to apply occupational psychological tests in a timely and fair manner. Participants will also be able to conduct a good feedback interview. Moreover, they will know the characteristics of a psychological test suitable for use in the work place.

Attitude
After the course participants will have a considered approach to the use of psychological tests in employment. They should be able to make sound judgements so that testing can be conducted in a fair manner. Participants will also be able to ask critical questions to test suppliers and others, and they should be able to advise customers or their own business when it comes to the selection and use of psychological tests in employment.

Prerequisites
Participants should have knowledge of the recruitment process, for example with a background from BIK 2500 ‘Recruiting, interviewing and new employee learning processes’, or through experience from the field. It would be advantageous if the participants have some experience of the use of psychological tests.

Compulsory reading
Books:
Cohen, Ronald Jay & Mark E. Swerdlik. 2012. Psychological testing and assessment : an introduction to test and measurement. 8th ed. McGraw-Hill
Nordvik, Hilmar & Ulleberg, Pål. 2000. Teststatistikk: en oversikt over statistiske begreper og metoder knyttet til konstruksjon og bruk av psykologiske tester. Tapir akademiske forlag. 30

Articles:
Utvalgte artikler / Selected Articles. Material distributed during the course

Recommended reading
Books:
Cooper, Colin. 2010. Individual differences and personality. 3rd ed. Hodder Education

Course outline
Basic statistical concepts and methods in recruitment and selection
Frequency distribution
Standardised scores
Correlation
Measurement error and reliability
Requirements for psychological tests
Reliability
Validation
Normalisation and adaptation
Individual differences
Intelligence
Personality
Motivation
Measurement of human qualities and skills
Intelligence and skill tests
Normative, ipsative and partly ipsative tests
Personality tests
Motivation tests
360 degree evaluation
The recruitment process
Job analysis
Selection methods
Psychological testing and the recruitment process
Overview of psychological tests
Predicting behaviour based on test results
Feedback on the test results
Use of tests in personnel selection
Use of tests in development
Testing in practice
Administration of the testing process
Ethics in the use of psychological tests
Ensuring candidates rights
Storage of test materials and test results

Computer-based tools
itslearning. The student is responsible for gaining access to the Internet in connection with the administration of occupational psychological tests.

Learning process and workload
The course is organised in three sessions consisting of two days teaching (6 days in total). In addition, participants will be given tasks to complete between the blocks.


Examination
At the end of the course it is a four-hour individual written exam followed by a practical examination lasting about 30 minutes where the students should conduct a feedback interview to a candidate.

Examination code(s)
BIK 29251 - Written individual exam. The exam grade is either pass or fail
BIK 29252 - Oral practical exam. The exam grade is either pass or fail

Both written and oral practical exam must be passed before the candidate acquires 7.5 credits for course, BIK 2925

Examination support materials
No aids are allowed for the written examination. User Manuals for the current profile tool is permitted during the practical test.

Re-sit examination
Re-sit at the next ordinary exam

Additional information