About the course

73326 Personality and Individual Differences is a Level 700 or Stage 3 course that examines personality theories and issues relevant to the measurement of personality in applied and research contexts. Personality is one of the most interesting and challenging areas of study in contemporary psychology, and personality testing is becoming more and more widespread, particularly in employment settings.

Personality and Individual Differences investigates various personality theories and ways of defining personality, such as the trait, biological, psychodynamic, behavioural, phenomenological, spiritual, and cognitive approaches. Testing relevant to the various approaches is discussed. The course also examines issues in personality testing such as administration of tests and interpretation of test scores. Reliability and validity of scores is discussed. Lastly the course examines the application of personality testing, particularly in psychotherapeutic and employment settings.

This course is available in the following programme(s):

OP5300 Diploma in Psychology Level 5
OP6130 Diploma in Organisational Psychology Level 6
OP7001 Bachelor of Business
OP7010 Bachelor of Applied Science
OP7020 Bachelor of Arts

What's in the course

• Definitions of personality; history and research methods; reliability and validity
• Theories of personality: trait, biological, psychoanalytic, behavioural, humanistic, and cognitive
• The use of interviews in personality assessment
• Personality testing in real settings: diagnosis and treatment of psychopathology; job matching.

What students learn

• Critically evaluate theories of personality and related modes of assessment
• Understand issues of reliability and validity in personality testing
• Administer selected personality tests and interpret test scores at a fundamental level
• Prepare basic psychological treatments based on test results.

Prerequisite

Assessment

Fees

New Zealand Student Fee    $588.00

Additional Fee Information

What do I do now?

Request a copy of the brochure.
Download an enrolment form.
For further information free phone 0508 650 200 or email

Other Information

Students must attend a one-day workshop which is normally held in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland in August. Satisfactory completion of workshop tasks is worth 10% towards overall grade.

Satisfactory completion of 73326 Personality and Individual Differences along with 73325 Psychological Assessment within the psychology major of the Bachelor Applied Science degree programme will allow the holder to be considered for test user registration at Level C. Such registration is sought through the New Zealand Council for Educational Research who have approved this course as contributing to Level C test user requirements.

Employment Opportunities

Students who pass 73326 Personality and Individual Differences and 73325 Psychological Assessment as part of the BAppSci degree (or equivalent other) are eligible to apply to the NZ Council for Educational Research (NZCER) to use tests at Level C. Test usage is growing, for example, in education, where students’ ability versus achievement is assessed, and in recruitment, where the suitability of prospective personnel for vacant positions is assessed. Contact Dr. Belinda Boyd-Wilson at Open Polytechnic for further information.