The impact of specialist training on professional identity, organisational membership, organisational commitment, and stress in correctional psychologists
| Pages | 130-140 |
| Date | 10 May 2013 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14636641311322313 |
| Published date | 10 May 2013 |
| Author | Ashlee Curtis,Andrew Day |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Public policy & environmental management,Sociology |
The impact of specialist training on
professional identity, organisational
membership, organisational commitment,
and stress in correctional psychologists
Ashlee Curtis and Andrew Day
Abstract
Purpose – Recent years have seen some significant changes to the psychology profession in Australia that
have prompted debate about the role of specialist areas of practice. This study aims to investigate those
attitudes and values that might be associated with one particular specialism, that of forensic psychology.
Design/methodology/approach – The influence of specialist forensic training on the professional
identity of 30 correctional psychologists was examined in relation to their self-reported level of stress,
organisational membership, and organisational commitment.
Findings – Theresults suggest that exposure to specialist training in forensic psychology may not be directly
associated with organisational commitment, membership or stress, although some differences between
forensic psychologists and those who held other professional practice qualifications were observed.
Research limitations/implications – The main limitations of the study include the small sample size and
the use of a scale that has not been well-validated. Replication and extension of the study is required.
Practical implications – The study has implications for the recruitment and retention of psychologists in
correctional settings and for the development of professionalidentity in post-graduate training programmes.
Originality/value – This study is the first to explore the differences in professional identity,
organisational commitment, organisational membership and stress in a sample of psychologists who
practice in the correctional setting.
Keywords Psychology, Forensic psychology, Professional identity, Organisational commitment,
Organisational membership, Training
Paper type Research paper
Professional psychology in Australia has experienced some significant changes in recent
years. Not only has a system of national registration become mandatory for all allied health
professionals, but specialist titlesfor some areas of psychological practice (clinical, forensic,
organisational,and health) have been introduced (PsychologyBoard of Australia, 2011). Such
changes, in addition to new Federal Government arrangements for the funding of clinical
psychology sessions (Department of Health and Aging, 2011), have prompted renewed
debate about a range of different professional practice issues, including the distinctiveness
of different specialties withinprofessional psychology, the competenciesthat are required to
practice in a specific area, and the need for specialist post-graduatetraining pathways.
One defined area of specialism is that of forensic psychology. According to the Australian
Psychological Society (APS, 2010) forensic psychology is the application of psychological
theory, concepts and skills to the legal and justice system and to people who work in,
participate in, or are influenced by it. Forensic psychological practice is thus concerned with
the provision of expert psychological evidence in courts (and other tribunals), consulting to
the legal and justice system, as well as the provision of assessment and intervention
services to those in custody. Forensic psychology is a relatively small disciplinary area
PAGE 130
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
j
VOL. 15 NO. 2 2013, pp. 130-140, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794 DOI 10.1108/14636641311322313
Ashlee Curtis is a student at
School of Psychology,
Deakin University,Geelong,
Australia.
Andrew Day is Professor in
Clinical and Forensic
Psychology, School of
Psychology, Deakin
University, Geelong,
Australia.
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