Practical Format Guidelines - IGNOU

 Psychology Practicum

The Lecture or Guide or Academic counsellor will introduce you to the following format which you have to follow while preparing practicum notebook.

• Title: This heading will contain the ‘title’ or ‘name’ of the practical e.g, 16 PF.

• Aims/ Objectives: This will basically consist of the main objectives or purpose of the practical. For example, if you are performing a test on ‘16 PF’ then the basic objective of the test will be: ‘To assess the personality of the subject using 16 PF’.

• Introduction: Here, the historical background of the test/ experiment is mentioned. The concept is defined and discussed. For example, in case of 16 PF, the historical background of 16 PF is described. The concept of personality is defined and the theories related to it are discussed.

• Description of the Test: Under this, the details with regard to the test are mentioned, like author of the test, basic purpose of the test, number of items, dimensions/ factors, time limit, reliability, validity, scoring.

• Materials Required: The materials required for the administration of the test are mentioned.

For example, in case of 16 PF, the test booklet, answer sheet, scoring key, pencil, eraser.

• Participant’s Profile: This will contain all the detailed information about the participant, like, name (optional), age, gender, educational qualification and occupation.

• Procedure and administration: The following sub headings are included here,

Preparation: The material required for conduction of the test such as test booklet, apparatus or instrument, answer sheet, stopwatch are kept ready.

Rapport: You will have to mention that rapport was created with the participant and that s/he was well informed about the details of the test.

Instructions: Instruction as given in the test manual are included here.

Precautions: Precautions, if any, to be considered while administration of the test are mentioned under this sub heading.

Introspective Report: After completion of the test by the participant, an introspective report is to be taken from the participant. The report will include feelings overall experience & difficulties (if any) faced by the participant. The report is to be written in practicum notebook in first person only.

• Scoring and Interpretation: After the participant completes the test, the answer sheet is to be scored with the help of the scoring key and the data is to be interpreted with the help of the norms given in the manual. The scores can then be mentioned and interpreted under this heading. Any tables/figures/diagrams to be drawn in pencil on blank page with proper title and number.

• Discussion: You will discuss the result based on the interpretation. It may be further analysed in the light of the introspective report.

• Conclusion: Under this heading, you will conclude the findings of the test.

• References: The books, websites and the manual referred to by the learner are mentioned in American Psychological Association (APA) format.