Cecilia Costa

Abstract

Psychological assessment is regarded as a core competency in the field of psychology. In order to improve factors such as cost-effectiveness, reliability, and efficiency, clinicians and researchers incorporate the use of technology into psychological assessment through computer-based test administration, scoring, and interpretation, as well as through mobile platforms such as tablets. The purpose of the present study was to examine psychological assessment practices and trends across six categories of internship settings. The study utilized archival, questionnaire-based data from a national sample of psychology internship directors at APPIC-member programs (N = 124). The six types of internship settings examined in the present study were: university counseling centers, state/county/other public hospitals, Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, consortiums, prisons or correctional facilities, and community mental health centers. Descriptive statistics were calculated on the questionnaire responses and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to examine whether there were significant differences across the six groups of internship directors on selected questionnaire items. There was moderately strong endorsement of the importance of technology in psychological assessment across all six internship categories. Internship directors also reported that emphasis on, and resources for, assessment would likely remain stable or slightly increase in the future. There were no statistically significant differences between groups on the questionnaire items examined in this study. The findings suggested at least some strengthening of the importance of technology applications in assessment practices at the internship level. The findings also provide current information to academic programs and doctoral students about the continued relevance and importance of psychological assessment across a broad range of internship categories. It is clear that pre-doctoral psychology internship applicants need to continue to be prepared and trained in psychological assessment in order to be competitive in the selection process at most internship sites.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Dissertations (PsyD) -- Psychology; Psychodiagnostics; Psychology -- Technological innovations -- Case studies; Interns (Clinical psychology) -- Case studies

Date of Award

2019

School Affiliation

Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Department/Program

Psychology

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate

Faculty Advisor

Keatinge, Carolyn;

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