British Psychological Society Research Articles

Considerations of Intersectionality in Psychological research

At the forefront of the increasingly popular intersectionality agenda in psychology is the wellbeing of individuals. The British Psychological Society states that a key principle of psychological research is to “consider societal benefits” and “contribute to the common good” (BPS, 2021). There is an abundance of evidence on the harmful outcomes of negative intergroup relations and systemic oppression on marginalised individuals. For example, marginalised groups often experience educational and economic disadvantages (Porter, 2011) alongside both physical and mental health disparities (English et al., 2022; Mitchell et al., 2021; Stevens-Watkins et al., 2014). Consequently, psychology as a discipline should prioritise advocating for a more equitable society.

Editorial: Introducing the British Psychological Society journals' landmark special issue on the United Nation's Sustainability Goals

Editorial: Introducing the British Psychological Society journals' landmark special issue on the United Nation's Sustainability Goals

BPS DSEP position statement: Psychological skills training in youth sport

Young athletes have become an increasingly important client group for sport psychology practitioners and a population whose physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development should be carefully considered by a practitioner when delivering their services (Visek et al., 2009). The aim of this British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP) position statement is to summarise existing knowledge about psychological skills training (PST) interventions and discuss optimal service provision of PST in youth sport. In the first section of this position statement, we provide a brief overview of the literature exploring PST during childhood (5–11 years), early adolescence (12–15 years), and mid-to-late adolescence (16–18 years). Within each sub-section, key developmental considerations (i.e. physical, cognitive, emotional, and social) are provided followed by short summaries of research on basic single strategy (i.e. goal setting, imagery, relaxation, and self-talk) and alternative strategy interventions (e.g. mindfulness, music, perceptual training, and self-modelling) with young athletes. In the second section, optimal service provision of PST is discussed by drawing upon practitioners’ experiences of working with young athletes, concluding with 10 recommendations for youth sport organisations, training and accrediting bodies, researchers, and practitioners.

Transferable skills for QSEP training. From marketing to Sport Psychology

This was a case study prepared for the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP), and focuses on transferable skills from a marketing career. Through different delivery stages, examples illustrate where skills transferred or where adaptations were needed, informed by applied literature and BPS guidelines.

Digesting Psychology: Metadiscourse as a Recontextualising Tool in the Digital Communication of Disciplinary Research

Abstract Metadiscourse was initially conceived as a tool to explore mainly academic, monologic, written texts. When applied to the study of digital discourse, metadiscourse may reveal itself as a rather frustrating exploratory framework, firstly because of the problematised interaction between writer and reader in an online context where audiences are not easily identifiable and, secondly, because of the multimodal character of digital texts. In the present study, the role played by interactive metadiscoursal resources in online communication has been explored. For such purposes, the focus has been placed on a corpus of digital research digests published on the website of the British Psychological Society, the most important representative body of the profession in the United Kingdom. The study revolves around the function of interactive metadiscourse as a recontextualising tool to facilitate the understanding of complex disciplinary knowledge for potentially less expert readers. Several interactive resources (code glosses, evidentials, transition markers, and frame markers) are identified, which strategically contribute to the mediation of specialised information and which also take advantage of the affordances offered by digital platforms.

An integrated approach to coaching for individual thriving

The purpose of coaching psychology is to apply knowledge and methods from the psychological sciences to promote human thriving. This article builds on a presentation given at the British Psychological Society’s coaching psychology conference in June 2023. It begins by arguing for the need for an integrated model of thriving that is relevant for coaching. It then reviews the history of psychological research into thriving and associated concepts and presents an overview of current models of thriving in psychology. Finally, the paper proposes an integrated model of coaching for thriving: the 4Es of energy, engagement, expansion and exploration. This model is intended to help coaches operationalise the psychological research on thriving as a focus for coaching psychology practice and research.

Gaining prescription rights: a qualitative survey mapping the views of UK counselling and clinical psychologists

ABSTRACT Objective The British Psychological Society (BPS) has been exploring whether its practitioner members are interested in gaining prescription rights for psychiatric drugs and what such a privilege might look like. This qualitative study aimed to survey the views of UK-based, qualified counselling and clinical psychologists. Method: Qualitative data was collected from 82 participants via an online survey (37 counselling and 45 clinical psychologists). Along with the survey items, the last question asked participants to select one of three answers (yes/no/unsure) in relation to whether they supported prescription rights for psychologists. The qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis, from a critical realist perspective, to develop 3 themes. Results Theme 1 explores how psychologists grapple with their professional identity within structures dominated by the medical model of distress, and constructions of the prescription rights debate as a crossroads for both discipline and profession. Theme 2 explores participants’ assumptions about psychiatric drugs as they seem to serve as a springboard to their views on prescription rights. Theme 3 examines the belief that gaining prescription rights will result in increased status and power for psychologists and what might be gained or lost as a result. Regarding the final question: 18 participants answered yes; 42 no; and 22 were unsure. Conclusion We advocate for increased criticality in how UK psychology continues to consider this issue. We caution against an optionality approach that might risk obscuring wider implications for psychology beyond the preferences of individual practitioners.

"There are lots of new faces this year… I'm not entirely sure when I became one of the old ones": a psycho-ethnography of the self at #PoWESconf five years in.

Conferences have been discussed as spaces for academic work to extend beyond the confines of one's institution, fostering environments of collaborative working, learning, and social bond-making. The British Psychological Society's Psychology of Women and Equalities Section hosts an annual conference, attended by feminist scholars from around the world. Drawing on auto-ethnography and psycho-biography, this paper presents a 'psycho-ethnography of the self' with reflections centred on: 'Scholarship', 'Feminist Praxis'; '(Safe) Academic Spaces'; and 'Positioning the Self'. This article contributes to a small, but growing body of literature critically reflecting on conferences as spaces for personal and professional development and academic growth.

Exploring the processes of evidence-informed decision-making in applied sport psychology

The purpose of the current study was to explore evidence-informed decisions involved in designing psychological interventions for performance enhancement. Employing a constructivist grounded theory methodology, 10 experienced and 10 early career sport psychology practitioners participated in semi-structured interviews. All participants gained their qualified status through the British Psychological Society and were registered practitioner psychologists with the Health and Care Professions Council within the UK. Accordingly, results are reflective of the participants’ training and practice experiences. Four key categories of decision-making processes were constructed: gathering information about the athlete, using research evidence, drawing on experience and tacit knowledge, and integration. Our findings demonstrated the interactions between research-based and practice-based knowledge when designing interventions that suit the needs of the athlete, work pragmatically within the applied context, and have the desired effect on the intervention goal. Our findings provide a better understanding of the interactions and processes used by sport psychology practitioners in applied practice. Such an understanding may inform the construction of evidence-informed interventions that lead to better performance outcomes. Lay Summary: This study explored the evidence-informed decision-making processes of 10 early career and 10 experienced, UK-based, sport psychology practitioners when designing interventions for athletes. Results highlighted the importance of integrating evidence from the athlete, research, and practice experiences to support evidence-informed decisions to enhance the performance of athletes.

Development of the revised Neuropsychological Assessment of Dementia in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (NAID-R)

Adults with intellectual disabilities, particularly Down’s syndrome, have an increased risk of developing dementia. The British Psychological Society (BPS) recommends the use of both direct and indirect assessment tools to inform a diagnosis. The Neuropsychological Assessment of Dementia in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (NAID) is a battery of simple tests that most people with Down’s syndrome can attempt. This article describes the development of a freely available revised NAID administration and scoring manual (NAID-R) to promote its use within and between services. This may facilitate earlier detection of dementia, which is key to improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

To say (sexual fetish)… or not to say (sexual fetish). That is the question

PurposeIn a recent report the author wrote about a service user, the author was challenged by the service user’s advocate in respect of the author’s use of the term “sexual fetish”. The author was informed of the advocate’s fears in respect of people involved in the service user’s future care and support needs feeling uncomfortable and possibly stigmatising someone having a sexual fetish. Consequently, the author was asked to change their wording from “sexual fetish” to “sensory need”. The purpose of this study/paper aims to highlight best practice regarding the most appropriate wording for individuals with sexual fetishes.Design/methodology/approachA review of the available evidence was ascertained.FindingsA review of British Psychological Society guidelines and recent research highlights that what were once called “perversions” must be destigmatised, which will not be achieved if people continue to sweep the term fetish under the metaphorical carpet.Originality/valueIt is the author’s sincere hope that use of the term “sexual fetish” embraces and normalises people’s sexual fetish and results in heightened awareness and de-stigmatisation of what is essentially a reference to an element of the wonderful and pleasurable world of sexual behaviour.

Contextual recruitment in neuropsychology: A practice-based example of a novel approach and reflections on the process from an assistant psychologist

In 2021, a government initiative offered opportunities for aspiring clinical psychologists from underrepresented groups to gain paid clinical experience (Health Education England, 2021). This article describes how this initiative was used as an opportunity to integrate more contextual recruitment approaches for the recruitment of assistant psychologists (APs) in a neuropsychology department, in line with the strategic goals to increase diversity in the profession (British Psychological Society, 2023a). The strategies implemented to promote inclusivity are described in three separate phases of pre-application, peri-application, and onboarding. Reflections are provided in parallel from an aspiring clinical psychologist’s first-hand experience of the contextual recruitment process. The article aims to provide a template for other neuropsychology services to draw upon and develop in their recruitment and selection processes, and catalyse wider organisational change to promote a more diverse, representative psychology workforce.

The Power Threat Meaning Framework and Self-Discrepancy Theory: Complementary Perspectives

The efficacy of psychotherapy is now well-established, and research has provided strong evidence for several change factors, such as the therapeutic relationship, insight, corrective experiences, and reality testing (Goldfried, 2019). Increased understanding of the therapeutic change process has been a notable advance in psychotherapy, but an agreed view of the nature and causality of psychological problems has eluded the psychotherapeutic professions. The dominant medical paradigm within psychiatry and psychology asserts a predominantly neurobiological basis for psychological problems while humanist and relational paradigms prefer a broader and meaning-oriented basis for understanding such problems. This paper provides a review of one alternative conceptual framework, the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF) developed by the British Psychological Society. While the PTMF offers a comprehensive alternative method for conceptualising mental health, it does not provide a specific practice roadmap. The framework’s authors encourage therapists to apply the PTMF in conjunction with their own theoretical preferences. In this paper, I have two aims: the first, to outline and examine the principles inherent within the PTMF, and the second, to provide an example of how the PTMF might be operationalised using an existing theoretical model, self-discrepancy theory (SDT). While the principles of the PTMF can be integrated with a host of theories of psychotherapy, SDT is utilised here as an heuristic to demonstrate the utility of the PTMF.

Clinical psychology and human rights: A call to action

This special edition of the Clinical Psychology Forum dedicated to clinical psychology and human rights highlights the essential role of clinical psychologists in promoting human rights, justice, and equity. Formal, legal, declarations of human rights can be seen as formalized systems for ensuring that people’s basic needs are satisfied. For psychologists, they are codifications of how we collectively understand our relationships and social obligations. We are called to action—to utilize our expertise, privilege, and power to effect positive change. Albert Camus said that “psychology is action, not just thinking about yourself”. Psychologists should positively advocate for the application of psychological science to these issues. The British Psychological Society and Association of Clinical Psychologists, as the leading professional bodies, can enhance our public impact by issuing public statements and engaging in advocacy that addresses the intersection of clinical psychology, human rights, and political issues.

An Insight Into the Use of Personality Assessment by U.K. Sport Psychology Consultants

Personality has a long, if somewhat checkered history in the sport psychology literature, but insight into its use in contemporary applied practice is more limited. This study investigated contemporary sport psychology consultants’ perceptions of using personality assessment. Ten participants (four female and six male; mean 14 years’ applied experience), all Health and Care Professions Council–registered and accredited by either the British Psychological Society or British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, were purposefully sampled and interviewed. An inductive thematic analysis was then performed. Five themes were identified: effective practice, perceived impact, societal movements, organizational experience, and innovation. Findings deliver an original insight into the perceptions of practitioners around personality assessment in sport, illustrating a movement from prediction to development in the field and providing novel examples of bespoke, individualized tool application. Broad training and career experiences will help practitioners fully appreciate these potential opportunities.

Understanding a constellation of eight COVID-19 disease prevention behaviours using the COM-B model and the theoretical domains framework: a qualitative study using the behaviour change wheel.

The use of behavioural science and behaviour change within local authorities and public health has supported healthful change; as evidenced by its importance and contribution to reducing harm during the COVID-19 pandemic. It can provide valuable information to enable the creation of evidence-based intervention strategies, co-created with the people they are aimed at, in an effective and efficient manner. This study aimed to use the COM-B model to understand the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation of performing a constellation of eight COVID-19 disease prevention behaviours related to the slogans of 'Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air'; 'Find, Isolate, Test, (FIT), and Vaccinate' in those employed in workplaces identified as high risk for transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) to support intervention development. This qualitative study recruited twenty-three participants (16 female, 7 male), who were interviewed from three environments (schools, care homes, warehouses) across three local authorities. Semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Ten core themes were identified inductively; (1) knowledge and skills, (2) regulating the behaviour, (3) willingness to act, (4) necessity and concerns, (5) emotional impact, (6) conducive environment, (7) societal influence, (8) no longer united against COVID-19, (9) credible leadership, and (10) inconsistent adherence to COVID-19 prevention behaviours. Themes were then deductively mapped to the COM-B model of behaviour change and the theoretical domains framework and a logic model using the behaviour change wheel (BCW) was produced to inform intervention design. This study offers a novel approach to analysis that has included eight behaviours within a single thematic analysis and COM-B diagnosis. This will enable local authorities to direct limited resources to overarching priorities. Of key importance, was the need for supportive and credible leadership, alongside developing interventions collaboratively with the target audience. COVID-19 has had an emotional toll on those interviewed, however, promoting the value of disease prevention behaviours, over and above their costs, can facilitate behaviour. Developing knowledge and skills, through education, training, marketing and modelling can further facilitate behaviour. This supports guidance produced by the British Psychological Society COVID-19 behavioural science and disease prevention taskforce.

Who is a coach and who is a coaching psychologist? Professionalising coaching psychology in the United Kingdom

As the British Psychological Society establishes a new Division of Coaching Psychology and routes to chartered membership for coaching psychologists, we revisit the ongoing dialogue into the professionalisation of coaching psychology, with a specific focus on practice in the United Kingdom (UK). We attempt to make distinctions between the practice of a coaching psychologist and a professionally qualified coach. First, we offer an overview of the development of coaching psychology over recent years, contemplating the need to regulate it as a profession. Following that, we consider some of the main coaching and coaching psychology definitions in an attempt to delineate the practice of coaching psychologists from that of non-psychologist coaches. Next, we compare approaches to training and some of the differences between coaching and coaching psychology, as well as the need for an ethical framework and supervision for coaching psychologists. Finally, we conclude by offering a final thought about who is a coaching psychologist.

Sandra Trehub (1938–2023)

Research Article| April 01 2023 Sandra Trehub (1938–2023) E. Glenn Schellenberg, E. Glenn Schellenberg Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Lisbon, Portugal Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Laurel J. Trainor Laurel J. Trainor McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Music Perception (2023) 40 (4): 347–349. https://doi.org/10.1525/mp.2023.40.4.347 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation E. Glenn Schellenberg, Laurel J. Trainor; Sandra Trehub (1938–2023). Music Perception 1 April 2023; 40 (4): 347–349. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/mp.2023.40.4.347 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentMusic Perception Search We are greatly saddened by the passing of Sandra Trehub. Born in 1938, she died peacefully at her home on January 20, 2023. Sandra was a trailblazer. Her research focusing on auditory pattern perception in infancy and early childhood single-handedly started developmental research in music perception and cognition. Her experimental studies documented that infants have basic skills that form the building blocks for remembering and responding emotionally to music, including the capability to perceive and categorize auditory sequences on the basis of pitch, upward or downward changes in pitch, and rhythm. Her research also established that singing to infants is a universal behavior, which ultimately facilitates language acquisition and bonding with caregivers. A fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and the British Psychological Society, Sandra was awarded many honors, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Music Perception and Cognition and the Kurt Koffka Medal from the... You do not currently have access to this content.

The impact of clinical training changes on self-rated competency and confidence in neuropsychology: A survey of UEA-trained clinical psychologists in East Anglia

A Competency Framework, produced by the British Psychological Society Division of Neuropsychology, specifies the underpinning neuropsychological knowledge and skills required for different levels of practice. In 2016, the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology at the University of East Anglia (UEA) introduced changes to align its neuropsychology teaching to the Competency Framework. This report illustrates a pilot evaluation of the impact of such changes on the self-rated neuropsychological competency and confidence of UEA-trained clinical psychologists in East Anglia using a bespoke online survey. Based on 76 respondents, the results highlighted, promising effects of the changes, with post–2016 participants showing higher levels of self-rated competency and confidence in neuropsychology than pre-2016 participants. However, the discrepancy in sample size between pre- and post–2016 groups and a number of other caveats and limitations should be considered. Additional iterations of the survey, involving future cohorts following qualification, are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

Introduction to Michael A. Hogg's SPSSI Kurt Lewin Award Address

Introduction to Michael A. Hogg's SPSSI Kurt Lewin Award Address