Evidence Based Practice for Psychologists

The goal of this unit is to provide students with an understanding of evidence-based practice and how to utilize research to improve the quality of intervention planning and delivery in psychological practice. To be scientist-practitioners, psychologists need to be critical research consumers and research producers. This unit will enhance critical research literacy and equip students with the practical skills needed to conduct a systematic review of research relevant to a chosen psychology practice-based topic. Through a mixture of seminars and independent and group activities and assignments, students are provided with the tools to design, conduct and report findings from applied research and to critically and systematically review relevant published research.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Elucidate an advanced understanding of evidence-based practice and the relationship between research and practice;
2. Critically and systematically evaluate and review psychological literature and research design; and
3. Interrogate research findings in terms of their implications for evidence-based interventions in psychological practice.