PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE - 2023/4

Module code: MANM360

Module Overview


Assessment in the workplace is carried out for a variety of purposes, for example recruitment and selection, performance management and diagnosis of training and development needs. This module covers foundations of psychological assessment (reliability, validity, and fairness), core theories of individual differences (e.g. personality, cognitive ability, emotions) and their application in organizational practice. The main emphasis in the coverage of practice is recruitment and selection.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

WOODS Steve (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 84

Lecture Hours: 22

Seminar Hours: 11

Guided Learning: 11

Captured Content: 22

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content


Indicative content includes:



  • Foundations of assessment (reliability, validity, fairness)


  • Theories of individual differences


  • Assessment in HRM context


  • Job and competency analysis


  • Recruitment and selection process models


  • Selection assessment methodology


  • Selection decision making


Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Oral exam or presentation Group Presentation and Slide Deck Submission 30
Coursework Individual Essay 70

Alternative Assessment

As an alternative to the Group Assignment: Individual Presentation and slide deck submission

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

Practical and technical skills relevant to assessment in the workplace.

Critical and conceptual perspectives on assessment, individual differences, recruitment and selection

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:


  • A group assignment comprising a presentation showing the process of designing a short personality scale. Student must submit their slide deck with detailed notes) one day before the presentation.

  • An essay-based individual assignment



Formative assessment

Verbal feedback on class activities. Group Assignment weekly feedback also serves a formative function.

Feedback

In writing and verbal feedback from the module team based on group assignments.

Module aims

  • Introduce and provide frameworks of technical concepts in assessment in the workplace (reliability, validity and fairness)
  • Develop students' critical analysis of theories and models of individual differences.
  • Provide an evidence-based, systematic and strategic appreciation of recruitment and selection in the workplace.
  • Enable students to develop practical transferable skills in scale development and competency modelling.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
1 Understand the importance of reliability, validity and fairness for evaluating assessment at work. KC
2 Critically evaluate models and theories of individual differences. KC
3 Evaluate recruitment and selection processes in organizations in terms of their evidence-base, systematic and strategic features. KCT
4 Compare and contrast the strengths and limitations of different selection assessment techniques CPT
5 Analyse the competency requirements of a job and design and evaluate a short personality scale. PT

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to enable students to develop a practical and critical theoretical perspective on assessment methodology, and recruitment and selection.


The learning and teaching methods include:


  • Lectures

  • Class activities

  • Group work (scale design activity)




  • Supplementary guided learning reading materials at SurreyLearn


Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MANM360

Other information

Employability

This module helps students to understand the application of theoretical and practical concepts of recruitment and selection, particularly, in personality assessment which provided them with a better understanding and application of practical and technical skills relevant to assessment in the workplace and how to present them accordingly. Further, the transferable skills gained through this module such as critical thinking, team-working, and report presentation and writing will enhance their employability potential.

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Occupational and Organizational Psychology MSc 1 Core A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.