Psy.D. Students' Knowledge of General Psychotherapy Outcome Research Findings

Over six decades of psychotherapy outcome research has suggested that a few major factors consistently account for a majority of the variability observed in therapy outcomes. No research has examined what Psy.D. students know about these important factors, the active ingredients that make therapy “work. ” The current cultural context for clinical practice includes managed care and a movement toward empirically supported treatments. In light of this, it was hypothesized that Psy.D. students would overestimate the contribution of specific techniques for therapy outcome. It was further hypothesized that students’ overall knowledge of outcome factors research findings would be low. In general, hypotheses were not supported. When compared to experts, Psy.D. students showed moderate to strong knowledge of outcome factors research findings. However, students significantly underestimated the overall support for therapy as an effective intervention in the literature. As students progressed in their Psy.D. programs, this inaccurate perception increased. Students’ awareness of the historical tension between research and practice may partially explain this finding. Recommendations for improving students’ core knowledge of outcome factors research are given. Degree Type Dissertation Rights Terms of use for work posted in CommonKnowledge. Comments Library Use: LIH This dissertation is available at CommonKnowledge: http://commons.pacificu.edu/spp/162 Copyright and terms of use If you have downloaded this document directly from the web or from CommonKnowledge, see the “Rights” section on the previous page for the terms of use. If you have received this document through an interlibrary loan/document delivery service, the following terms of use apply: Copyright in this work is held by the author(s). You may download or print any portion of this document for personal use only, or for any use that is allowed by fair use (Title 17, §107 U.S.C.). Except for personal or fair use, you or your borrowing library may not reproduce, remix, republish, post, transmit, or distribute this document, or any portion thereof, without the permission of the copyright owner. [Note: If this document is licensed under a Creative Commons license (see “Rights” on the previous page) which allows broader usage rights, your use is governed by the terms of that license. ] Inquiries regarding further use of these materials should be addressed to: CommonKnowledge Rights, Pacific University Library, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116, (503) 352-7209. Email inquiries may be directed to:. copyright@pacificu.edu This dissertation is available at CommonKnowledge: http://commons.pacificu.edu/spp/162 PSY.D. STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE OF GENERAL PSYCHOTHERAPY OUTCOME RESEARCH FINDINGS A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY PACIFIC UNIVERSITY, HILLSBORO, OREGON BY ALEC WILSON IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY JULY 23, 2010 APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE: James B. Lane, Ph. D. Jon Frew, Ph. D. , ABPP PROFESSOR AND DEAN: Michel Hersen, Ph. D. , ABPP