Towards a comprehensive model of scientific research and professional practice in psychology

Abstract

In this article I present a model of associations between two social domains: the scientific research domain (here psychology) and the professional practice domain. In the former case, its quality is determined by social and individual methodological awareness (MA). I introduce my own definition of MA. What determines the validity and usefulness of practical actions undertaken by professionals (e.g., assessment, therapy) in the practice domain is the accurately constructed empirical theory high in descriptive power, explanatory power and predictive power. I propose a model (my own conceptualization) in which I analyze information flow between the domains of scientific research (psychology as a science) and professional practice (psychology as a profession). In the subsequent and final part I discuss my own model which links theory and practice: Scientific Research and Professional Practice in Psychology (SRPPP). The article ends with a presentation of three contexts in which the interrelationship between theory and practice is immersed: the ethical, psychological and cultural contexts.

Data integration levels. Between scientific research and professional practice in clinical psychology

“…It is also consistent with Jerzy Brzeziński's comprehensive model: Scientific Research and Professional Practice in Psychology (SRPPP) (Brzeziński, 2016b). The editors of the most important Polish textbook in clinical psychology, Psychologia kliniczna [Clinical Psychology], Lidia Cierpiałkowska and Helena Sęk (Cierpiałkowska & Sęk, 2016b) wrote in a text describing the current state and developmental trends of clinical psychology (Cierpiałkowska & Sęk, 2016a): "The scientific level of clinical psychology is determined by creating a theory, adhering to methodological assumptions, and conducting modern research.…”

“…We can also observe, unfortunately, a belief in pseudoscientific concept, a fascination with "therapeutic" concepts, which have little to do On the other hand, emphasis is placed to a much greater extent than previously on cultural factors (cf. American Psychological Association, 2008;Brzeziński, 2016b). And these are also positiveshown in Fig.…”

“…A properly constructed and tested psychological theory is the basis of professional practice. Both diagnosis and therapy -planned and conducted within it -must, in order not to be excluded, meet (now very strict) methodological and ethical standards: evidence-based assessment (EBA) or evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP) (Brzeziński, 2016b). The relationships presented above are shown in Fig.…”

Znaczenie postaw wobec badań naukowych i statystyki w procesie kształcenia akademickiego psychologów. Przegląd literatury

“…Pojęcie to, zaczerpnięte z prac Jerzego Kmity (1976), a rozwinięte na łamach psychologii przez Brzezińskiego (1978;2016), odnosi się do hipotetycznego regulatora czynności naukowo-badawczych, czuwającego nad poprawnością w zakresie planowania, prowadzenia i interpretowania rezultatów badań naukowych. W efekcie zatem można uznać, że na świadomość metodologiczną badacza (rozumianą jako indywidualna świadomość metodologiczna) składają się normy i dyrektywy metodologiczne obowiązujące w danej społeczności naukowców.…”

Evidence-based assessment in a transtheoretical and paradigmatic approach

“…The development and the level of theoretical knowledge manifests itself in its consistency and versatility, in the quality of empirical research and its usefulness in practice (McAdams, 1994). At the same time, mutual relations between theory and clinical practice are constantly present in reflection on various aspects and new tasks of research and practice (Cierpiałkowska & Sęk, 2015, 2016Brzeziń-ski, 2016). A particular challenge for "old" paradigmatic clinical psychology is the trans-theoretical trend (also called integrative, transparadigmatic), namely evidence-based practice (EBP), which is widely used in diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.…”