Differential Psychology

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1012004BNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

For this course you have to meet certain enrolment requirements. For an overview of the enrolment requirements check https://www.vub.be/en/studying-vub/practical-info-for-students/study-guidance/study-path/individual-study-path#paragraph--id--71647 Students must have taken 'Personality Psychology’, before they can enroll in ‘Differential Psychology’. Studenten die ingeschreven zijn in een verkort traject kunnen dit opleidingsonderdeel opnemen.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences

Department

Klinische- en Levenslooppsychologie

Educational team

Gina Rossi (course titular)
Xenia Christiane L Brancart

Activities and contact hours

20 contact hours Lecture
16 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
32 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

We explore modern approaches of personality and individual differences based on exiting knowledge- and research domains. Each of these knowledge and research domains share a number of features: research methods to answer hypotheses, a certain foundation of knowledge of facts and typical theoretical explanations.

During the theoretical course influential and recent knowledge- and research domains of personality psychology will be discussed. The focus will be basic assumptions and theoretical explanations based on accumulated empirical research evidence. Discussed domains and associated individual differences are:
1) dispositional domain: how personality is influenced by traits the person is born with or develops (stability versus change of traits),
2) biological domain: how personality is influenced by biological events (genetically, physiologically, evolutionary),
3) intelligence domain: implicit theories, theoretical approaches/models and measuring intelligence, individual differences in intelligence
4) social and cultural domain: influence on personality by social, cultural and gender positions.

WPO:
During exercises students study a number of questionnaires measuring personality and psychopathology based on the empirical paradigm. Students acquire active knowledge and learn to write an integrated personality report on the basis of different test results of the MMPI-3(-2) and possible additional selection of instruments (tests/instruments are indicative). The selected tests/instruments can be mapped onto contemporary personality and/or psychopathology models.

Course material

Handbook (Required) : Differential Psychology, Rossi G., Mc Graw Hill, 9781307699647, 2021

Additional info

Possible forms of HOC/WPO are on campus and/or livestream and/or recorded lessons.
The hours below are indicative for regular students:
HOC 20 hours, WPO 16 hours, ZELF 32 hours
Buy your handbook only at the VUB Standaard studentshop to have the most recent edition. Consult the course section on the learning platform for more information or other course material.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Gaining insight in associations between personality and behaviour and individual differences.
Making links between recently formulated and empirically based theory and recently published research studies.
Being able to integrate different research domains and personality questionnaires.
Having knowledge of assessment of clinically relevant aspects in general/clinical populations.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
PRAC Report determines 50% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written exam multiple choice with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Note: Theory (50%): written multiple choice exam. Points of parts (multiple choice and task) for which one succeeded (at least half of the maximum possible points) are kept. Participation in all parts is mandatory to obtain a total grade. Check class session and canvas for deadlines and guidelines. Always keep a complete copy of the task as handed in.

Within the PRAC Report category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Assignment (integrated report) with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Note: Practice/exercises (50%): task (integrated report). Points of parts (multiple choice and task) for which one succeeded (at least half of the maximum possible points) are kept. Participation in all parts is mandatory to obtain a total grade. Check class session and canvas for deadlines and guidelines. Always keep a complete copy of the task as handed in.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Written multiple choice exam (50%)
Task (integrated report) (50%)

The multiple-choice exam will be graded by positive scoring with Higher Pass Mark. Thus, no points will be deducted for a wrong answer. On the other hand, gaining points by guessing will be incorporated into the final point by increasing the pass mark.

The pass mark for the exam and the exact conversion table will be communicated in a timely manner on Canvas and in the exam instructions. The exam strategy by this method is simple: do your best on all of the exam, questions you don't know or partially know, you can guess to the best of your ability, without worrying about possible point deductions.

Points of parts (exam or task) for which one succeeded (at least half of the maximum possible points) are kept. These points are transferred to the next exam session/academic year. If a student achieves at least half of the maximum possible points on a part and retakes the part in a next exam session, only the last obtained result will count. If, prior to the start of a next exam session, the student emails the professor that they do not wish to keep the obtained partial result, the points will be irrevocably lost. Participation in all parts is mandatory to obtain a total grade.

Check class session and learning platform for deadlines and guidelines! If a deadline is not respected or the task is incomplete, the task will automatically not be graded until the next exam period in the next session (second exam session or next academic year) and no total score will be granted. Always keep a complete copy of the task as handed in.

Sharing personal data or sensitive information with AI tools poses a privacy risk. Some AI services store entered data for further training purposes. Thus, the case for the task (test results and personal data) should not be shared with AI to prevent dissemination of the case and personal data. However, the use of generative AI is allowed within this course to support in any way possible for parts that do not include the case (e.g., as a search engine for treatment indications; note AI generated information may contain errors and should not be used without critical review, also always perform your own analysis based on evidence-based sources). Any use of generative AI should be indicated and cited appropriately (use APA style).

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context