This module aims to development knowledge, critical understanding and practical skills in the area of psychological assessment at work. The module content aims to equip students with both theoretical and practical insight into the crucial role that assessment plays in organisations, from the point of pre-selection and recruitment, through to appraisal, performance management, career development and organisational change. Further, the module aims to provide students with the evidence-based knowledge and practical skills necessary to conduct an effective job analysis. The module will also cover a wide range of selection methods (for example, screening tools, employment interviews, psychometric testing, situational judgement tests, work sample tests, and assessment centres) and the evidence base for each of these. By critically examining the constructs of validity, reliability, utility and performance criteria, students will be able to make informed decisions regarding the suitability of different selection methods in specific contexts. Students will also gain an appreciation for the importance of diversity and fairness in selection and assessment design as well as the importance of considering candidate perceptions and experiences in ethical decision making.

(LO1) Students will be able to recognise and critique the strategic importance of assessment in organisations and the role that assessment processes play in pre-selection and recruitment, appraisal, promotion, training and talent management, through to the eventual impact on the wider organisation.

(LO2) Students will be able to critically understand and appraise key psychological and psychometric theories and models that inform best practice in assessment including individual differences in personality and cognitive ability, practical skills in psychometric test construction and the use of online testing and assessment.

(LO3) Students will be able to interpret methods of job analysis and apply practical skills in capability profiling and competency analysis.

(LO4) Students will be able to critically understand and critically evaluate different selection and assessment methods available to organisations using the concepts of reliability, validity, utility and performance criteria.

(LO5) Students will be able to critically understand the importance of fairness, diversity and candidate perspectives in the selection and design of assessment methods.

(LO6) Students will be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of career management, the employment lifecycle and the changing nature of work that has practical relevance to one’s future career.

(LO7) Students will be able to critically evaluate and apply practical skills relating to the function of workplace coaching for personal career development.

(S1) Teamwork
Students will be required to work together as a team to deliver group presentations on the module.

(S2) Ethical awareness
Students will be exposed to the BPS ethics framework and the responsibilities that employers have for equal opportunity, diversity and fairness in selection and assessment processes.

(S3) Problem solving
Students will be exposed to case studies and organisational problems and will develop solutions using module content.

(S4) Communication
Students will be expected to communicate effectively with their teammates and module facilitators in the development and delivery of their group presentation.

(S5) Numeracy
Students will develop quantitative skills by using psychometric data to examine the concepts of validity and reliability.

(S6) Digital literacy
Students will be required to develop engaging presentations through the use of various digital technologies and multi-media.

(S7) Commercial awareness
Students will gain an understanding of how psychometric and diagnostic tools are developed and used for commercial purposes, and will develop skills in test construction and pitching consultancy services to business.

(S8) International awareness
Students will be exposed to different cultural perspectives, norms and values by considering module content from a globalised international perspective.

(S9) Lifelong Learning
Students will apply theories and models of career development and occupational choice to develop their own personal careers plans for the future.

(S10) Consultancy skills
Students will apply the BPS consultancy cycle to identify and diagnose real-life organisational challenges and develop and evaluate tailored evidence-based solutions to effectively address stakeholder needs.

This module will be delivered over twelve weeks, comprising ten teaching weeks plus two enhancement weeks. The approach to teaching and learning will combine the use of large group in-person and asynchronous lectures, small group seminars (or workshops), scheduled seminar preparation sessions, and cross-programme contemporary issues sessions.

Lectures (total of 14 hours) - Each week will include at least a one-hour scheduled lecture, except for four weeks (scheduled at the beginning, mid-points and end of the module), which will be delivered as two-hour, in-person, live lectures. One-hour lectures could also be delivered live and in-person but may alternatively be provided online or asynchronously (including appropriate scaffolding and online supporting material) at the discretion of the module teaching team.

Seminars (total of 12 hours) - Each module will include six two-hour seminars. These seminars will be interactive small-group in-person workshops.

Seminar pre paration (total of 6 hours) - Each seminar will also include a scheduled one-hour preparation session, enabling students to engage in relevant preparation activities, as deemed necessary by the module teaching team.

Contemporary Issues Sessions (total of 4 hours) - The module will also include two two-hour contemporary issues lectures or events that are directly relevant to the module and broader programme of study. These may include a lecture from a member of faculty on their research, an external industry speaker or a member of the advisory board and will be organised by the Director of Studies in coordination with module teams.

Self-directed learning (total of 164 hours) – Students will engage in self-directed learning in a wide variety of ways throughout the programme. This will include engaging in scaffolded independent learning tasks set outside the classroom on the virtual learning platform, independent reading from essential and recommended sources (e.g., jou rnal articles, textbooks, industry reports, practitioner publications), assignment development and preparation, formative online quizzes, case study analysis, simulation-based tasks, and self-directed group activities. Staff responsible for the module will also provide weekly office-hours and dedicated assessment and feedback sessions for students to seek individual support and formative feedback on their independent learning and progress.

The module will introduce new subject matter not yet considered in the programme, and will cover the following indicative topics:

The strategic role of assessment for organisations and its impact on individuals;

The employment lifecycle, occupational choice and career planning;

The role of job analysis in selection and assessment – capability profiling and competency analysis;

Selection methods such as screening tools, employment interviews, psychometric testing, situational judgement tests, work sample tests, and assessment centres;

Standards for selecting assessment methods – validity, reliability, utility and performance criteria;

Individual differences – psychological theories of personality and cognitive ability;

Psychometric test construction and administration;

The consideration of diversity, fairness and candidate reactions in selection and assessment;

Psychological assessment in the context of apprai sal and performance management;

Workplace coaching;

Practitioner insights; key considerations for the application of theory and methods in professional practice.