Related Experiment Videos
The scientifically-minded psychologist: science as a core competency
Kathleen J Bieschke1, Nadya A Fouad, Frank L Collins
1Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. kbieschke@psu.edu
Journal of Clinical Psychology
|June 15, 2004
Summary
Professional psychologists must integrate scientific knowledge into practice by accessing, contributing, and critically evaluating research. This ensures scientific practice remains vigilant to sociocultural factors and open to public scrutiny.
Area of Science:
- Professional Psychology
- Psychological Education
- Scientific Practice
Background:
- The Competencies Conference addressed future directions in professional psychology education and credentialing.
- A work group focused on defining how psychologists practice scientifically.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the subcomponents of the core competency of scientific practice in psychology.
- To discuss variations in training and assessment for these subcomponents across different training models.
Main Methods:
- The study identified and described five key subcomponents of scientific practice.
- These subcomponents were derived from discussions at the Competencies Conference.
Main Results:
- Subcomponents of scientific practice include: accessing/applying knowledge, contributing to knowledge, critically evaluating interventions, considering sociocultural influences, and subjecting work to scrutiny.
- The depth of training and assessment for each subcomponent varies by training model.
Conclusions:
- Defining scientific practice is crucial for professional psychology.
- Implications for individual psychologists, training programs, and the profession are discussed.
- Future directions for enhancing scientific practice in psychology are outlined.