Evidence-Based Practices in Psychology

599 Words2 Pages

According to APA (2005), "evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP) is the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences."
The evidence based practice process has five steps as outlined by EBBP.org:
1. Ask important questions about the care of individuals, communities, or populations.
2. Acquire the best available evidence regarding the question.
3. Critically appraise the evidence for validity and applicability to the problem at hand.
4. Apply the evidence by engaging in collaborative health decision-making with the affected individual(s) and/or group(s). Appropriate decision-making integrates the context, values and preferences of the care recipient, as well as available resources, including professional expertise.
5. Assess the outcome and disseminate the results.
This approach was adapted into behavioral studies from the field of clinical medicine. The approach is supposed to serve an alternative to other forms of evidence such as opinion, advice, bias, fallacy, professional myth, or advocacy.
EBP is based upon and always implies ethical practice. I find APA Ethics Codes (APA, 2010) Principles 2.03 and 2.04 being directly related to complying with EBP approach: 2.03 Maintaining Competence: Psychologists undertake ongoing efforts to develop and maintain their competence. 2.04 Bases for Scientific and Professional Judgments: Psychologists’ work is based upon established scientific and professional knowledge of the discipline.
From the EBP perspective, both of this principles represent an ongoing professional commitment to reevaluating ones' best practices in light of new research and evidence, as opposed to blindly adhering to...

... middle of paper ...

...ing, communication in globally diverse teams may have research associated with them but need to be reviewed in the context of particular organization with its unique characteristics.

Works Cited

American Psychological Association. (2005). Policy Statement on Evidence-Based Practice in Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/evidence-based-statement.aspx
American Psychological Association. (2010a). American Psychological Association ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx
Briner, R. & Rousseau, D. (2011). Evidence-Based I–O Psychology: Not There Yet. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 4 , 3–22.
Spring, B. (2007). Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Psychology: What It Is, Why It Matters; What You Need to Know. Journal of Clinical Psychology DOI 10.1002/jclp

Open Document