Educational objectives The course aims to provide a unified theoretical and methodological framework for psychological testing, integrating the conceptual foundations of psychometrics (measurement, reliability, validity), the main psychometric models and the psychological theories of intelligence and of normal and pathological personality with the data-analysis techniques required to build, evaluate, administer and interpret psychological tests. The educational goals are organised according to the five Dublin Descriptors and contribute to the educational goals of the Bachelor's Degree as defined in the programme's Tuning Matrix.
A) Knowledge and understanding
The course aims to develop knowledge and understanding of:
• the history, contemporary definition and classification of psychological tests, the phases of the testing process and the ethical and professional constraints governing the use of measurement instruments in psychology;
• the logical and formal foundations of measurement in psychology and the main psychometric models: Classical Test Theory (CTT), Generalizability Theory (GT), Item Response Theory (IRT: 1PL, 2PL, 3PL models) and the network psychometrics perspective;
• the concepts of reliability and validity, their different conceptualisations and the indices used to estimate them (reliability coefficients, standard error of measurement, validity indices);
• the statistical techniques used to assess psychometric properties: descriptive statistics and standardisation, t-tests, analysis of variance, correlation, simple and multiple linear regression, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, item analysis, factorial invariance and norming;
• the main theories of intelligence and personality (normal and pathological) and the associated instruments: intelligence scales, self-report questionnaires of adaptive traits, and multidimensional inventories for the assessment of maladaptive and psychopathological traits.
B) Applying knowledge and understanding
The course aims to develop the ability to:
• build and/or interpret psychometrically sound data-collection instruments, distinguishing formative and reflective items and mastering the move from concept to construct and operational definition;
• administer and interpret self-report questionnaires, with particular reference to individual differences in personality and to the regulation of emotions and motivations, reading their profiles and reporting their results in a technically correct way;
• administer and interpret psychological tests, with particular reference to intelligence scales and aptitude batteries, interpreting the profile of IQ and indices and locating standardised scores with respect to norms, under the supervision of a licensed psychologist;
• carry out statistical data analyses using dedicated software (jamovi, JASP, ShinyItemAnalysis), running and interpreting the procedures needed to document the reliability and validity of a test, performing an item analysis and evaluating the psychometric quality of items and scales, distinguishing random from systematic error;
• use computer tools for the analysis, interpretation and presentation of psychometric output and content.
C) Making judgements
The course aims to develop the ability to:
• critically and independently evaluate the suitability of a test with respect to its purpose and context, recognise the limits of test scores and tell sound inferences from unwarranted ones, according to a critical-thinking faculty cutting across the various fields of Psychology;
• independently orient oneself in applying the psychometric techniques learned, choosing the instrument and analysis procedure most appropriate to a given assessment goal, in line with the level of preparation proper to the Bachelor's degree;
• reflect independently, in ethical and professional terms, on the consequences of using tests and interpreting scores, weighing the implications of fairness, equity and the absence of bias in measurement.
D) Communication skills
The course aims to develop the ability to:
• communicate information, ideas and results concerning the nature, use and properties of psychological tests to both specialist and non-specialist audiences, through written materials and oral presentations and the use of appropriate psychometric terminology;
• read and interpret scientific literature in psychometrics, in both Italian and English, drawing out and communicating its relevant evidence in an argued manner;
• use computer tools for the presentation of content and analysis results.
E) Learning skills
The course aims to develop:
• the ability to read advanced scientific literature in psychometrics critically and independently, processing in an autonomous way the contributions of the various fields of Psychology;
• the ability to use analysis software independently and to keep up to date with the methodological developments of the discipline;
• the learning ability needed to undertake the professional activities envisaged for graduates in Psychology and Social Processes and to continue with master's-level study.
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