The University of South Africa (UNISA)
Psychological Assessment:
PYC4807
Assignment 3:
Portfolio
2021
Disclaimer when purchasing notes:
This should only be used as a guide and to get insight into how exams
/portfolio layout works. It is not guaranteed to be the same for your exam
but will provide extra guidance to formulate YOUR OWN LONG
QUESTIONS. IT IS CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM WHEN YOU USE IT
AS YOUR OWN WORK. THIS IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
OF THE WRITER AND TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY
OUTCOME OF YOUR EXAM RESULTS.
This assignment has been through TurnIt in and if any work is directly
copied it will be reflected at submission.
This portfolio will give you an indication of the quality of work needed for
a high mark, how to approach the questions and how to write up research.
Please ensure that you use your own work once you submit your final
assignments.
, Page 1 of 29
Table of Contents
SECTION 1: EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING ................................................................................................. 2
Developmental............................................................................................................................................... 2
SECTION 2: CASE STUDY............................................................................................................................. 6
2.1 Case study 1:............................................................................................................................................ 6
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 6
Reason/rationale for testing in a developmental context ............................................................................... 7
Context of the assessment ............................................................................................................................. 8
Test battery .................................................................................................................................................... 9
Diagnostic measures .................................................................................................................................. 9
Griffiths Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised (GMDS-ER) ................................................. 9
Psychometric properties of the GMD-ER ................................................................................................... 11
Standardisation ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Reliability ................................................................................................................................................ 11
Validity .................................................................................................................................................... 12
Administration, interpretation of results and feedback................................................................................ 13
Administration ......................................................................................................................................... 13
Ethical Considerations ............................................................................................................................. 14
Feedback .................................................................................................................................................. 15
Interpreting the results ............................................................................................................................. 15
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 16
SECTION 3: QUESTIONS ON THEORETICAL AND APPLIED KNOWLEDGE .................................... 20
Question 1................................................................................................................................................ 20
Question 2................................................................................................................................................ 21
Question 3................................................................................................................................................ 22
Question 4a .............................................................................................................................................. 23
Question 5a .............................................................................................................................................. 24
SECTION 4: REFERENCING AND PLAGIARISM ..................................................................................... 26
Reference list ............................................................................................................................................... 26
Plagiarism declaration .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Turnitin similarity index ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
PYC4807 psychological assessment
, Page 2 of 29
PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT
SECTION 1: EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING
Developmental
1.2 Questions
2) Describe the context (e.g. typical activities done in this environment, the people involved
in the environment, etcetera).
Psychological Developmental assessments cover a wide range of testing, it is done to assess a
child’s strengths and weaknesses in different areas. Areas include emotional, cognitive, social,
language and physical development. Evaluations can be performed to track all the important
developmental milestones and to pick up any deviations that could be a red flag in development.
Children might be referred from other professions to conduct an overall profile of a child.
Psychometric assessments in development are done by a registered psychologist that specializes in
children. Most psychological testing is to evaluate a child’s development in the emotional, social
and cognitive domains. Speech and Language therapists will assess the language development of a
child to pick up any speech impediment or hearing difficulties. From a physical domain, different
professions will assess the gross-motor, fine-motor development and neuromotor functioning of
children
3) What are the reasons for testing in this context?
Luiz (1997) states “Growth and development that occurs during the early years of childhood has a
large impact on later development”. It has been highlighted that the identification of children with
difficulties should take priority to ensure earlier interventions. A holistic approach should be taken
to evaluate children as each domain affects one another.
Developmental testing is done on many levels across different ages, Olson’s (2020) definition for
Infant and Early Childhood Development states “Developmental assessments are used to get
information about infants' characteristics and abilities either through direct measurements, such as
test administration, or observations of developmental skills” (p.454).
PYC4807 psychological assessment
Psychological Assessment:
PYC4807
Assignment 3:
Portfolio
2021
Disclaimer when purchasing notes:
This should only be used as a guide and to get insight into how exams
/portfolio layout works. It is not guaranteed to be the same for your exam
but will provide extra guidance to formulate YOUR OWN LONG
QUESTIONS. IT IS CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM WHEN YOU USE IT
AS YOUR OWN WORK. THIS IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
OF THE WRITER AND TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY
OUTCOME OF YOUR EXAM RESULTS.
This assignment has been through TurnIt in and if any work is directly
copied it will be reflected at submission.
This portfolio will give you an indication of the quality of work needed for
a high mark, how to approach the questions and how to write up research.
Please ensure that you use your own work once you submit your final
assignments.
, Page 1 of 29
Table of Contents
SECTION 1: EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING ................................................................................................. 2
Developmental............................................................................................................................................... 2
SECTION 2: CASE STUDY............................................................................................................................. 6
2.1 Case study 1:............................................................................................................................................ 6
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 6
Reason/rationale for testing in a developmental context ............................................................................... 7
Context of the assessment ............................................................................................................................. 8
Test battery .................................................................................................................................................... 9
Diagnostic measures .................................................................................................................................. 9
Griffiths Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised (GMDS-ER) ................................................. 9
Psychometric properties of the GMD-ER ................................................................................................... 11
Standardisation ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Reliability ................................................................................................................................................ 11
Validity .................................................................................................................................................... 12
Administration, interpretation of results and feedback................................................................................ 13
Administration ......................................................................................................................................... 13
Ethical Considerations ............................................................................................................................. 14
Feedback .................................................................................................................................................. 15
Interpreting the results ............................................................................................................................. 15
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 16
SECTION 3: QUESTIONS ON THEORETICAL AND APPLIED KNOWLEDGE .................................... 20
Question 1................................................................................................................................................ 20
Question 2................................................................................................................................................ 21
Question 3................................................................................................................................................ 22
Question 4a .............................................................................................................................................. 23
Question 5a .............................................................................................................................................. 24
SECTION 4: REFERENCING AND PLAGIARISM ..................................................................................... 26
Reference list ............................................................................................................................................... 26
Plagiarism declaration .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Turnitin similarity index ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
PYC4807 psychological assessment
, Page 2 of 29
PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT
SECTION 1: EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING
Developmental
1.2 Questions
2) Describe the context (e.g. typical activities done in this environment, the people involved
in the environment, etcetera).
Psychological Developmental assessments cover a wide range of testing, it is done to assess a
child’s strengths and weaknesses in different areas. Areas include emotional, cognitive, social,
language and physical development. Evaluations can be performed to track all the important
developmental milestones and to pick up any deviations that could be a red flag in development.
Children might be referred from other professions to conduct an overall profile of a child.
Psychometric assessments in development are done by a registered psychologist that specializes in
children. Most psychological testing is to evaluate a child’s development in the emotional, social
and cognitive domains. Speech and Language therapists will assess the language development of a
child to pick up any speech impediment or hearing difficulties. From a physical domain, different
professions will assess the gross-motor, fine-motor development and neuromotor functioning of
children
3) What are the reasons for testing in this context?
Luiz (1997) states “Growth and development that occurs during the early years of childhood has a
large impact on later development”. It has been highlighted that the identification of children with
difficulties should take priority to ensure earlier interventions. A holistic approach should be taken
to evaluate children as each domain affects one another.
Developmental testing is done on many levels across different ages, Olson’s (2020) definition for
Infant and Early Childhood Development states “Developmental assessments are used to get
information about infants' characteristics and abilities either through direct measurements, such as
test administration, or observations of developmental skills” (p.454).
PYC4807 psychological assessment
