Use of Delphi methodology to define competencies in professional educational psychology training

Abstract

This paper discusses two applications of the Delphi technique to define curriculum content for doctoral training programmes in educational psychology. Delphi is an approach which allows consensus to be drawn amongst experts in relation to particular issues. The first example involves the definition of competencies required for trainee educational psychologists working with young people aged 1625 years. The second centres on the revision of the Division of Educational and Child Psychology Training Committee competencies for the British Psychology Society (BPS) standards for the accreditation of postgraduate professional doctorate programmes in educational psychology.