Best practice assessment methods for the undergraduate psychology program: a narrative review of the literature

Abstract

Objective To determine if best practice guidelines exist for assessment methods throughout the undergraduate psychology program, and whether there are recommendations on how to scaffold these methods effectively and appropriately over the three-year degree.Methods A comprehensive database search and review of journal articles, books, and grey literature relevant to higher education assessment and evaluation, and their focus on psychology, was conducted. From this, six articles, eight books, and one report were deemed relevant to the current research, with all but one published in the United States.Results Four common themes arose from the findings: 1) assessments should be based on learning outcomes, 2) there are many considerations when creating assessments at a course and program level, 3) best practice assessment method: authentic assessment, and 4) recommendations for scaffolding assessment methods across the three-year program. Recommendations for scaffolding assessment methods related to the areas of scientific inquiry, psychological literacy, critical thinking, and problem-based learning.Conclusion This review highlights that much more work is needed to identify the assessment methods that are best suited to each level in the undergraduate psychology program, and how to effectively scaffold and evaluate these methods over the three-year degree.

Keywords

• Undergraduate psychology
• assessment methods
• teaching
• higher education
• narrative review