Professional Development Experiences: Are Psychology Interns Getting Enough?

Annette S. Kluck, Tracy O’Connor Pennuto, Kathrin Hartmann
DOI: 10.4236/psych.2011.29147                

Abstract

Understanding the professional development needs of psychology interns is essential to maximize the utility of predoctoral internship training; yet, little research has explored the professional development training experiences interns receive. In Study 1, 275 psychology interns from APPIC-listed programs completed a 20-question web-based anonymous survey, assessing experiences of and satisfaction with professional development training obtained on internship. Using a mixed method research design, a series of descriptive and correlational analyses were conduct ed. Results indicated almost 90% of interns reported receiving professional development training on internship, and 60% of interns were satisfied with their professional development training experiences. More comprehensive coverage of relevant professional development topics was associated with greater overall satisfaction and any coverage of a particular topic tended to be associated with greater satisfaction. Multiple linear regression results suggested that perceptions of preparedness for various post-internship positions were associated with satisfaction with professional development internship training experiences. In Study 2, 194 internship training directors completed a modified version of the same survey. Training directors reported more hours of coverage than did interns and tended to perceive interns as more satisfied with professional development training experiences on internship than did interns themselves. Implications for those involved in the training of interns are provided.

Keywords

Professional Development, Psychology, Internship, Training, Satisfaction

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (2002, December). APPIC copyright and legal notices. URL (last checked 11 February 2007) http://www.appic.org/31_0_legal_notices.html
[2]	Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (2005, May). 2005 APPIC Match: Survey of internship applicants. URL (last checked 11 May 2007) http://www.appic.org/match/5_2_2_4_7_match_about_statistics_surveys_2005.htm
[3]	Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (2006, December). Membership criteria: Doctoral psychology internship programs. URL (last checked 11 February 2007) http://www.appic.org/about/2_3_1_about_policies_and_procedures_internship.html
[4]	Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (2007, June). 2007 APPIC Match: Survey of internship applicants. Part 2: Summary of match rates by applicant and program characteristics. URL (last checked 20 June 2007) http://lyris.appic.org:81/read/archive?id=29157
[5]	Ax, R. K., & Morgan, R. D. (2002). Internship training opportunities in correctional psychology: A comparison of settings. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 29, 332-347. doi:10.1177/0093854802029003005
[6]	Belar, C. D., & Siegel, L. J. (1983). A survey of postdoctoral training programs in health psychology. Health Psychology, 2, 413-425. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.2.4.413
[7]	Bernard, J. M., & Goodyear, R. K. (2004). Fundamentals of clinical supervision (3rd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
[8]	Donders, J. (2002). Survey of graduates of programs affiliated with the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN). Clinical Neuropsychologist, 16, 413-425. doi:10.1076/clin.16.4.413.13906
[9]	Drabman, R. S. (1985). Graduate training of scientist-practitioner- oriented clinical psychologists: Where we can improve. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 16, 623-633. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.16.5.623
[10]	Dunivin, D. L., & Southwell, G. D. (2000). Psychopharmacology training in psychology internships: A brief curriculum. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 31, 610-614. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.31.6.610
[11]	Gross, S. M. (2005). Student perspectives on clinical and counseling psychology practica. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36, 299-306. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.36.3.299
[12]	Heppner, P. P., Wampold, B. E., & Kivlinghan, D. M. (2008). Research design in counseling (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Thompson/Brooks Cole.
[13]	Hoge, M. A., Stayner, D., & Davidson, L. (2000). Psychology intern- ships in the treatment of severe mental illness: Implications for training in academic medical centers. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 7, 213-222. doi:10.1023/A:1009580413935
[14]	Jarvis, P. E. (1989). Standardization versus individualization in the clinical internship. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 20, 185-186. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.20.3.185
[15]	Kaslow, N. J., Celano, M. P., & Stanton, M. (2005). Training in family psychology: A competencies-based approach. Family Process, 44, 337-353. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.2005.00063.x
[16]	LeJuez, C. W., Read, J. P., Gollan, J. K., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2001). Identifying, obtaining, and completing a predoctoral psychology internship: Research considerations. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 32, 650-654. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.32.6.650
[17]	Lochner, B. T. (1997). The relationship between cognitive style, theo- retical orientation, and preferences for supervisory style among professional psychology interns. Dissertation Abstracts International, 58, 419B.
[18]	Mullins, L. L., Hartman, V. L., Chaney, J. M., Balderson, B. H. K., & Hoff, A. L. (2003). Training experiences and theoretical orientations of pediatric psychologists. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 28, 115-122. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/28.2.115
[19]	Rodolfa, E. R., Kaslow, N. J., Stewart, A. E., Keilin, W. G., & Baker, J.(2005). Internship training: Do models really matter? Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36, 25-31. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.36.1.25
[20]	Ross, R. R., & Altmaier, E. M. (1990). Job analysis of psychology internships in counseling center settings. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 37, 459-464. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.37.4.459
[21]	Scott, A. E. (2004). Counselor development through critical incidents: A qualitative study of intern experiences during the predictoral internship. Dissertation Abstracts International, 65, 1681A.
[22]	Spruill, J., & Pruitt, S. D. (2000). Preparing psychologists for managedcare settings: Enhancing internship training programs. Profsional Psychology: Research and Practice, 31, 305-309.
[23]	Sternlicht, M. (1966). The clinical psychology internship. Mental Retardation, 4, 39-42.
[24]	Stubbe, D. E. (2002). Preparation for practice: Child and adolescent psychiatry graduates’ assessment of training experiences. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 41, 131- 139. doi:10.1097/00004583-200202000-00006