An Exploratory Study Examining Current Assessment Supervisory Practices in Professional Psychology

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Professional Training

Background:

• Limited empirical research exists on psychological assessment supervision practices.
• Existing literature primarily focuses on coursework and technical training in assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine current assessment supervisory practices in professional psychology.
• To gather perspectives on training needs and common interventions in assessment supervision.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was administered to 125 members of assessment-focused professional organizations.
• Descriptive and qualitative data were collected from participants with at least one year of supervision experience.

Main Results:

• Respondents recognized the need for formal training and ongoing development in assessment supervision competencies.
• Developmental and skill-based models were commonly used, but no single model was deemed superior.
• Only 65.6% of respondents reported using a supervision contract, despite recommendations.

Conclusions:

• Results indicate a need for improved training and curriculum development in assessment supervision.
• Further research is needed to explore multiple perspectives and establish "best practices" in assessment supervision.