Skip to main content
Published Online:

The aim of this study was to investigate how reliably psychology students assessed their professional skills and knowledge. Participants consisted of 117 students and were from three groups, namely: beginners, intermediate and advanced. They were asked to evaluate their skills in different areas of psychology using a questionnaire. Their skills in describing psychologists’ practice in two cases were also evaluated. The student groups differed in their self-assessed skills: the advanced student group got the best results in different areas of psychology while the group of beginners got less good results. The self-assessment of competence correlated significantly with the number of earned credits in psychology studies and points given by the teacher in problem-solving tasks. The challenge of training was that even after four years of studies, about 20% of the students were still at the level of lay helpers. The psychology students assessed their knowledge and skills very reliably. Additionally, the questionnaire turned out to be a good tool for feedback to develop the training of psychology.

REFERENCES

  • Bartram, D. , Roe, R. (2005). Definition and assessment of competences in the context of the European Diploma in psychology. European Psychologist, 10, 93–102. First citation in articleLinkGoogle Scholar

  • Belar, C. , Brown, R. , Hersch, L. , Hornyak, L. , Rozensky, R. , Sheridan, E. , Brown, R. , Reed, G. (2001). Self-Assessment in clinical health psychology: A model for ethical expansion of practice. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 32, 135–141. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Brown, C. (2002). Career counselling practitioners: reflections on theory, research, and practice. Journal of Career Development, 29, 109–127. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Boisvert, C. , Faust, D. (2003). Leading researchers’ consensus on psychotherapy research findings: Implications for the teaching and conduct of psychotherapy. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 34, 08–513. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Chivers, G. (2003). Utilising reflective practice interviews in professional development. Journal of European Industrial Training, 27, 5–15. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Cummings, J. (2002). A School psychological perspective on the consulting psychology education and training principles. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 34, 252–260. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Davis, D. , Mazmanian, P. , Fordis, M. , Van Harrison, R. , Thorpe, K. , & Perrier, L. (2006). Accuracy of Physician self-assessment compared with observed measures of competence. A systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Association, 296, 1094–1102. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • De Weerdt, S. , Corthouts, F. , Martens, H. (2002). Developing professional learning environments: model and application. Studies in Continuing Education, 24, 25–38. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Ducheny, K. , Alletzhauser, H. , Crandell, D. , Schneider, T. (1997). Graduate student professional development. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 28, 87–91. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Dunning, D. , Heath, C. , Suls, J. (2004). Flawed self-assessment. Implications for health, education, and the workplace. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 5, 69–106. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Eva, K. , Cunnington, J. , Reiter, H. , Keane, D. , Norman, G. (2004). How can I know what I don’t know? Poor self assessment in a well-defined domain. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 9, 211–224. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Falendar, C. , Shafranske, E. (2007). Competence in competency-based supervision practice: construct and application. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38, 232–240. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Ferry, N. , Ross-Gordon, J. (1998). An inquiry into Schon’s epistemology of practice: exploring links between experience and reflective practice. Adult Education Quarterly, 48, 98–113. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Fowler, E. , Harrison, P. (2001). Continuing professional development needs and activities of school psychologists. Psychology in the Schools, 38, 75–88. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Ikiugu, M. , Rosso, H. (2003). Facilitating professional identity in occupational therapy students. Occupational Therapy International, 10, 206–225. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Kaslow, N. , Rubin, N. , Bebeau, M. , Leigh, I. , Lichtenberg, J. , Nelson, P. , Portnoy, S. , & Smith, I. (2007). Guiding principles and recommendations fo the assessment of competence. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38, 441–451. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Langendyk, V. (2006). Not knowing that they do not know: self-assessment accuracy of third-year medical students. Medical Education, 40, 173–179. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Leigh, I. , Smith, I. , Bebeau, M. , Lichtenberg, J. , Nelson, P. , Portnoy, S. , Rubin, N. , & Kaslow, N. (2007). Competency assessment models. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38, 463–473. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Lichtenberg, J. , Portnoy, S. , Bebeau, M. , Leigh, I. , Nelson, P. , Rubin, N. , Smith, I. , & Kaslow, N. (2007). Challenges to the assessment of competence and competencies. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38, 474–478. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Lunt, I. (2002). A common framework for the training of psychologists in Europe. European Psychologist, 7, 180–191. First citation in articleLinkGoogle Scholar

  • McDaniel, S. , Belar, C. , Schroeder, C. , Hargrove, D. , Freeman, E. (2002). A Training curriculum for professional psychologists in primary care. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33, 65–72. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Mok, M. , Lung, C. , Cheng, D. , Cheung, R. , Ng, M. (2006). Self-assessment in higher education: experience in using a metacognitive approach in five case studies. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 31, 415–433. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Nelson, P. (2007). Striving for competence in the assessment of competence: psychology’s professional education and credentialing journey of public accountability. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 1, 3–12. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Roberts, M. , Borden, K. , Christiansen, M. , Lopez, S. (2005). Fostering a culture shift: Assessment of competence in the education and careers of professional psychologists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36, 355–361. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Rodolfa, E. , Bent, R. , Eisman, E. , Nelson, P. , Rehm, L. , & Richtie, P. (2005). A cube model for competency development: Implications for psychology educators and regulators. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36, 347–354. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Roe, R. (2002). What makes a competent psychologist? European Psychologist, 7, 192–202. First citation in articleLinkGoogle Scholar

  • Ronnestad, M. , Skovholt, T. (2003). The journey of the counselor and therapist: research findings and perspectives on professional development. Journal of Career Development, 30, 5–44. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Salas, E. , Cannon-Bowers, J. (2001). The science of training: A decade of progress. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 471–499. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Schön, D. (1983). The Reflective practitioner: how professionals think in action. Maurice Temple Smith: London. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Schön, D. (1987). Educating the reflective practitioner. Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Skovholt, T. , Ronnestad, M. (1992). The evolving professional self. Stages and themes in therapist and counselor development. Chichester: John Wiley. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Spring, B. (2007). Evidence-based practice in clinical psychology: what it is, why it matters; what you need to know. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63, 611–631. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Van der Heijden, B. , Verhelst, N. (2002). The psychometric evaluation of a multidimensional measurement instrument of professional expertise. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 18, 165–178. First citation in articleLinkGoogle Scholar