PSYn4650 Assessment center

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2027
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Marcela Leugnerová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Martin Vaculík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Martin Vaculík, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: prof. PhDr. Martin Vaculík, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! PSY465 Assessment center
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 15 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/15, only registered: 0/15
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
The course work includes two elements: a) theoretical background, b) self-experience and training. The aim of the course is to learn the basic concepts, knowledge and theories that are important for the successful implementation of the assessment center method.
The assessment center method is set in the theoretical framework from which it is based (behavioural diagnostics), it is presented in the context of other methods of personnel work designed to assess people and the theoretical concepts important for preserving the validity of the assessment center method are presented.
The course includes training of skills related to the design and implementation of the method. Students have the opportunity to experience the role of an assessment center participant, the opportunity to practice skills related to the role of an assessor in an assessment center, and the role of an outcome information provider. Specifically, they will practice, for example, taking behaviour samples, recording observed behaviour, classifying and evaluating observed behaviour, writing reports with results, and providing feedback on assessment center results.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
a. understand the basics requirements of assessment center method
b. to create an assessment center design
c. to follow proper process of observing and evaluating of behavior
d. to write down assessment center report
e. to provide feedback of assessment center results
Key topics
  • A. Assessment center method
  • Assessment centers in HRM
  • Basic requirements of an assessment center
  • Essential features of an assessment center
  • Theoretical foundations for alternative assessment center programs
  • Assessment center method and ethics
  • B. Evaluation of behavior
  • Behavior sampling
  • The role of assessors
  • ORCE - observe, record, classify, evaluate
  • Integration of observations
  • Social perception
  • C. Assessment center design
  • Behavioral dimensions
  • Simulation exercises
  • Exercise by dimensions matrix
  • D. Results of assessment center
  • Types of results
  • Feedback of assessment center results
  • Reports from assessment center
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • Caldwell, C., Thortnton, G. C., Gruys, M. L. (2003). Ten Classic Assessment Center Errors: Challenges to Selection Validity. Public Personnel Management, 32, 1, 73 - 88.
  • British Psychological Society (2003). Design, Implementation and Evaluation of Assessment and Development Center - Best Praktice Guidelines. Leicester: BSP.
  • Lievens, F. (1998). Factors with Improve the Construct Validity of Assessment Centers: A Review. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 6, 3, 141 - 152.
  • International Task Force on Assessment Center Guidelines (2000). Guidelines and ethical considerations for assessment center operation. Public Personnel Management, 29, 315-331.
  • VACULÍK, Martin. Assessment centrum: psychologie ve výběru a rozvoji lidí (Assessment center method: psychology of selection and personal development). Brno: NC Publishing, a.s., 2010, 202 pp. Gaia. ISBN 978-80-903858-8-7. info
  • BALLANTYNE, Iain and Nigel POVAH. Assessment and development centers. 2nd ed. Aldershot, Hants: Gower, 2004, xii, 220. ISBN 0566085992. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
lectures, seminars, class discussion, team projects and its presentation, reading
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Team assignment: 15 points
Individual assignment: 15 points
Written exam: 20 points
Seminars are obligatory (6 form 7).

Grades: A (50-46 points), B (45-41 points), C (40-36 points), D (35-31 points), E (30-25 points), F (24 points and less).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every other week.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Povinný předmět profilace Psychologie práce.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025, Spring 2026.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2027, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2027/PSYn4650