PSYCH 492Psychological Measurement: Foundations of Research and Practice
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
- Subject
- Psychology
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Students learn how to develop reliable and valid measures of psychological constructs (e.g., self-esteem, mind wandering), and study and apply advanced analytic procedures (e.g., regression, factor analysis). This course is foundational for graduate studies in all six areas of psychology, and for applied jobs in business, clinical, and educational settings.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed the following:
- PSYCH391 - Advanced Data Analysis (0.50)
- Earned a minimum Psychology average of 75.0%
- Complete 1 of the following
- Enrolled in H-Psychology (BA), or H-Psychology (BSc)
- Enrolled in: Make-up Psychology
- Must have completed the following:
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 3561 | 48 / 50 | MW 14:30–15:50 |
| LAB 101 | 3589 | 24 / 25 | Th 16:30–17:20 |
| LAB 102 | 4080 | 24 / 25 | F 09:30–10:20 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 3351 | 0 / 75 | TTh 10:00–11:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1272 | 76 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LAB 101 | 3355 | 0 / 25 | Th 12:30–13:20 |
| LAB 102 | 3356 | 0 / 25 | Th 13:30–14:20 |
| LAB 103 | 4227 | 0 / 25 | F 10:30–11:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
80% liked it59% easy84% useful
From 10 ratings and 4 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Good profs but had bad experiences with TA Megan Herrewynen who was an unempathetic marker
Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
If this is one of the last courses you are taking in your degree, then this course should be pretty easy. The statistics are very straightforward, and the instructors explained them in ways that were very easy to understand. The group project might be a hit or miss depending on your groupmates, but you are able to pick the people you want to be with in your lab section. The assignment of the group project itself will be easy if you know how to write research papers from previous courses. Very useful for understanding the importance of reliability and validity and how to test these.
May 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
In my final week of this course in Winter 2025 now. Taking it under two PhD students who teach the course. If you do not like group work or did not have good experience with group work, you are in for one heck of a ride as the main project for this course is a group assignment. Everyone in the group will share the same mark. We chose our group members within those in our assigned lab section. The labs serve as consultation time for your group project and the TAs are really helpful in ensuring you meet all the project benchmarks to get a decent grade. If you did well in PSYCH 391 and was able to understand those concepts, you'll have no trouble understanding new concepts taught here. Main…
Apr 2025On UW FlowRemove this
easily the worst of the research specialization courses. useless. difficult. annoying. heavily theoretically based. semester-long, annoying group project. just bad. wish i didn't have to take this course.
Dec 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
3 posts and comments in 3 threads mention PSYCH 492, January 2016 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2024
Tired BA Psych Research Intensified Student 😞 7 points, 0 comments
u/Broccolily-: “I think PSYCH 492 is easier than PSYCH 391. Both courses focus on data analysis, but in 391, you are learning everything from scratch. It is all about the formulas, corrections, and figuring out how to actually work with SPSS. It really feels like building from the ground up. …”
Spring 2017
Is there a program you are currently not enrolled in that you would enjoy taking out of interest? 15 points, 66 comments
“For example; you're in CS but would like to take Religious Studies out of curiosity, or a language class to learn a language particularly close to you, etc...”
u/imactuallynotacsgod: “Psych 492 - seems basically like rigorous real analysis for psych, really want to take it before I graduate but not sure how I'll ever get an override as a math student lol Also any psychology/Cognitive Science courses... Uoft has a whole major for this!”
Winter 2016
Is the psychology program at waterloo any good? 10 points, 42 comments
“Heyyy, very confused grade 12 here. I applied to Arts and Business with a major in psychology, and yes, I know Waterloo isn't known for Art... or Business... …”
u/tinafoil: “… Psych 492 is excellent if you can take it. 2. Do you want to work in HR? With arbus co-op, you can get relevant work experience. You can also take all the courses needed to get your CHRP. 3. Do you want to be more in Business but study psych too (i.e do PR, marketing etc) ? …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them