What happens when you compare 40 postgraduate psychology program’s placement logbooks?
Channel: AusPLAT Conferences and Roundtables
Date: 2022-04-12

Postgraduate psychology programs are required to maintain a formal record of individual trainee’s placement hours in the format of placement logbooks. Anecdotal reports suggest that there is substantial variability in the way logbooks are utilised across Australian institutions and little is known about the specific information captured by different logbooks. This presentation describes a benchmarking study which compared logbooks from 40 postgraduate psychology programs delivered across 27 institutions. Results indicated that there was consistency across programs in some elements, such as recording the date and duration of placement activities, and including a placement supervisor signature. However, there was high variability in relation to all other entries, including the amount and depth of information recorded (e.g., client information and sub-categories of client hours). Findings also indicated that the purpose of logbooks differed between programs, with some logbooks primarily used as a record keeping tool, whilst others had integrated pedagogical functions (e.g., reflective tool). Overall, findings from the benchmarking study suggest that logbook practices are not consistent across Australian institutions, highlighting the need for standardisation to increase confidence in the accuracy of recorded placement hours and the need to reconsider the purpose and pedagogical value of logbooks.