Overview

MODULE LEARINING OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES

The student should be able to demonstrate:

• Understanding of relevant measurement theory
• Show familiarity with content and structure of a range of existing tools
• Understand the variety of methods of measurement
• Critical appreciation of the clinical and research applications of health assessment

MODULE SESSION DATES

Deadline for applications is 2 weeks prior to module start date.  Applying before this is recommended as spaces are awarded on a first come first served basis (assuming conditions of offers are met). 

Module aims

• To critically evaluate the conceptual basis of illness assessment and measurement
• To examine the different methods, uses and contexts of assessment
• To critically evaluate existing assessment tools in terms of their psychometric properties and practical application
• To explore the relationship between illness assessment and other aspects of illness experience and management

Entry requirements

The course is aimed primarily at those with a practical and/or theoretical interest in the assessment and measurement of illness. Candidates should normally have a first or second-class honours degree in a relevant professional or academic area (e.g. medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, psychology, and statistics), and should have an understanding of the basic principles of psychometrics, measurement theory or statistics. Experience or understanding of clinical dimensions of illness would be advantageous

Module content

Approaches to measurement and assessment: methods and purposes. Types of assessment tools. Desirable attributes of measurement: valid, reliable, responsive, practicality, meaningful. Methods of evaluating and testing assessment tools. Study of specific tools for specific conditions. Behavioural and physiological measurement of pain. Capturing subjective elements of the pain experience. Measurement in clinical practice versus measurement in research.

Teaching and assessment

TEACHING FORMAT

Block sessions:  Lecturers, seminars, discussion sessions, and tutorials.

ASSESSMENT TYPE

An interactive viva examining an assessment tool in terms of its purpose, properties and context of its use.