Study Guide
Field 132: Psychology/Sociology
Test Design and Framework
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The test design below describes general assessment information. The framework that follows is a detailed outline that explains the knowledge and skills that this test measures.
Test Design
*Does not include 15-minute C B T tutorial
Test Framework
Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.
| subareas | range of competencies | approximate percentage of test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selected-Response | |||
| roman numeral 1 | core perspectives, methods, and concepts of psychology | 0001–0004 | 18 percent |
| roman numeral 2 | development, learning, and cognition | 0005–0008 | 18 percent |
| roman numeral | motivation, emotion, personality, mental health, and social behavior | 0009–0012 | 18 percent |
| roman numeral 4 | core methods and concepts of sociology | 0013–0016 | 18 percent |
| roman numeral 5 | social institutions, stratification, and problems | 0017–0019 | 13 percent |
| this cell intentionally left blank | 85 percent | ||
| subareas | range of competencies | approximate percentage of test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| constructed-response | |||
| roman numeral 6 | pedagogical content knowledge | 0020 | 15 percent |
subarea roman numeral 1–Core Perspectives, Methods, and Concepts of Psychology
Competency 0001–Apply knowledge of major ideas in psychology.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Apply knowledge of major individuals in psychology (e.g., Wundt, Sumner, Freud, Horney, Piaget, Bandura, Rogers, Ainsworth).
- Analyze how psychologists view behavior from the psychodynamic, behaviorist, humanist, cognitive, biological, and sociocultural perspectives.
- Apply knowledge of the different subfields of psychology (e.g., clinical, counseling, educational, experimental, industrial-organizational, personality, psychometric, social).
Competency 0002–Apply knowledge of the tools and methods of inquiry in psychology.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Apply skills used in posing questions, developing theories, and stating hypotheses in psychological research.
- Compare and contrast quantitative and qualitative research strategies (e.g., correlational studies, surveys, interviews, focus groups, narratives) as the foundation of research in psychology.
- Apply knowledge of administering and interpreting the results of tests.
- Apply knowledge of data analysis, including basic concepts of descriptive statistics.
- Apply knowledge of ethical principles in psychological research methods.
Competency 0003–Apply the principles of the biological bases of behavior.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Analyze the structures and functions of the endocrine system and the effects of hormones on behavior and mental processes.
- Analyze the structures and functions of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
- Apply knowledge of brain-based research and theory.
- Analyze the interaction between biology and experience and its influence on behavior.
- Apply knowledge of the role of biology in states of consciousness (e.g., sleep cycles, dreaming, brain imaging).
Competency 0004–Apply knowledge of characteristics of sensation and perception.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Analyze how humans organize, interpret, and respond to sensory stimuli.
- Analyze how the brain creates meaning from physical sensations.
- Distinguish between sensation and perception.
- Analyze factors (e.g., Gestalt principles, experiences, and expectations) that affect sensation and perception.
- Analyze the influence of altered states of consciousness (e.g., meditation, hypnosis, classes of drugs) on sensation and perception.
subarea roman numeral 2–Development, Learning, and Cognition
Competency 0005–Apply knowledge of lifespan development from conception to end of life.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Apply knowledge of developmental theories (e.g., theories of Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg, and Gilligan) to life situations.
- Analyze physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes throughout the lifespan.
- Analyze the interactive effects of biological and environmental factors (e.g., nature and nurture) on development.
- Analyze factors related to gender development and the development of cultural identity.
Competency 0006–Apply principles and processes associated with learning.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Apply knowledge of the principles of classical and operant conditioning.
- Apply knowledge of the principles of social-cognitive/observational learning.
- Analyze the roles of biology and culture in learning.
Competency 0007–Apply principles and processes associated with memory, thinking, and language.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Analyze how information is encoded, stored, and retrieved.
- Apply knowledge of cognitive processes involved in processing and understanding information.
- Analyze algorithms and heuristics involved in problem solving.
- Analyze heuristics, framing, and biases involved in decision making.
- Analyze the role of biology in cognition and memory.
Competency 0008–Apply principles and issues associated with intelligence.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Analyze theories and conceptualizations of intelligence.
- Apply knowledge of methods of assessing human abilities.
- Analyze alternative explanations for differences in intelligence test scores.
- Analyze issues of bias, validity, and reliability related to intelligence testing.
subarea roman numeral 3–Motivation, Emotion, Personality, Mental Health, and Social Behavior
Competency 0009–Apply concepts and processes related to motivation and emotion.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Apply knowledge of major theories of motivation (e.g., biological, social-cognitive, humanistic, cultural, critical race).
- Analyze factors that influence motivation.
- Apply knowledge of major theories of emotional experience (e.g., James-Lange theory, Cannon-Bard theory, Schachter two-factor theory).
- Analyze biological and environmental influences on the expression and experience of emotions.
- Analyze the effects of motivation and emotion on perception, cognition, and behavior.
Competency 0010–Apply knowledge of concepts of personality and methods for assessing personality.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Apply knowledge of personality and personality constructs.
- Analyze factors associated with the construction, revision, and use of self-concept and identity.
- Apply knowledge of theories and approaches associated with the study of personality (e.g., psychoanalytic, trait, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, biological).
- Apply knowledge of tools used to assess personality, including objective and projective techniques.
Competency 0011–Apply principles and processes associated with mental health and psychological disorders and treatments.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Analyze sources and effects of stress and the relationships between stress, psychological health, and physical health.
- Apply knowledge of types and characteristics of abnormal behavior.
- Apply current knowledge of symptoms and causes of major psychological disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia).
- Relate psychological perspectives to different modes of treatment for people with psychological disorders (e.g., psychoanalytic, biomedical, cognitive).
- Apply current criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for particular disorders.
Competency 0012–Apply concepts and processes related to social psychology.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Apply knowledge of attributional explanations of behavior.
- Apply knowledge of attitude formation and processes by which attitudes change.
- Evaluate the factors that lead to conformity, obedience, and nonconformity.
- Analyze social psychological phenomena (e.g., altruism, aggression, conflict, cooperation, competition, attraction, prejudice) and factors that influence these phenomena.
subarea roman numeral 4–Core Methods and Concepts of Sociology
Competency 0013–Apply knowledge of the perspective, historical development, and methods of inquiry of sociology.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Apply knowledge of the sociological perspective and how it differs from other social sciences.
- Apply knowledge of major ideas and individuals (e.g., Comte, Durkheim, Spencer, Weber, Mills, Dix, Addams, Marx, Dubois) in the development of sociology as a social science.
- Apply knowledge of the scientific method used to investigate and answer questions about the human experience.
- Apply knowledge of major methods of sociological research (e.g., surveys, experiments, observations, content analysis).
Competency 0014–Apply knowledge of the concepts of culture and society and their significance.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Distinguish between culture and society.
- Analyze major components of culture.
- Analyze factors and processes involved in the development and perpetuation of culture, subcultures, and countercultures.
- Analyze the nature of society and characteristics of different types of societies.
Competency 0015–Analyze the relationship between the individual and society.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Analyze processes of socialization through the developmental stages and their effects on the emergence of personal identity and a sense of self.
- Analyze the roles of social context and cultural and economic factors in the formation of individual values, beliefs, and attitudes.
- Analyze the role of society in the construction of the self.
- Apply knowledge of sociological theories of deviance and crime.
- Apply knowledge of individual and social consequences of deviant behavior.
- Apply knowledge of agents and methods of social control in different types of societies.
Competency 0016–Analyze concepts related to social structure and the organization of groups.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Apply knowledge of concepts of social interaction, social status, and social roles.
- Apply knowledge of various types of norms (e.g., folkways, mores, laws, taboos).
- Analyze characteristics, demographics, structures, and functions of different types of social groups and organizations.
- Analyze how in-group and out-group membership influences the life chances of individuals and shapes societal norms and values.
subarea roman numeral 5–Social Institutions, Stratification, and Problems
Competency 0017–Analyze characteristics of social institutions and their roles in different societies.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Analyze the characteristics and functions of different types of social institutions.
- Analyze differences in the roles played by the major social institutions in different societies.
- Analyze the changes that have taken place in family, religious, economic, educational, and political institutions in the United States.
Competency 0018–Analyze social inequality and its significance for other social problems.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Analyze common patterns of social inequality and stratification.
- Analyze concepts and theories regarding the causes of social inequality.
- Analyze the effects of social inequality on groups and individuals.
- Analyze concepts associated with race and racism and the causes, characteristics, and effects of ethnocentrism, xenophobia, and racial and ethnic discrimination.
- Analyze the causes, characteristics, and effects of gender and age discrimination in contemporary society.
Competency 0019–Analyze processes of social change.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Analyze theories explaining the causes, processes, and mechanisms of social continuity, conflict, and change.
- Analyze the concept of collective behavior and the origins and effects of different types of social movements.
- Analyze the significance of modernization and globalization for different societies.
- Analyze causes of industrialization and urbanization, problems created by urbanization, and solutions to urban problems.
- Analyze the effects of social change in rural areas.
subarea roman numeral 6–Pedagogical Content Knowledge
Competency 0020–Apply pedagogical content knowledge to design developmentally appropriate instruction to help students achieve a specific, standards-based learning goal in psychology that promotes learning for all students.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Apply knowledge of standards-based learning goals for psychology content.
- Apply knowledge of appropriate and effective assessments to measure and promote students' learning and growth in psychology.
- Analyze samples of student work and/or assessment results of student learning for a lesson in psychology.
- Describe and explain a learning activity or instructional strategy that would effectively address a student's identified challenge or build on a student's identified strength in psychology.
- Describe how the analysis of student work and/or assessment data can be used to guide future instruction in psychology.