ERIC Number: EJ1135251
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Apr
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0256-2928
EISSN: N/A
All Different or All the Same? Exploring the Diversity of Professional Practices in Portuguese School Psychology
Mendes, Sofia A.; Lasser, Jon; Abreu-Lima, Isabel M.; Almeida, Leandro S.
European Journal of Psychology of Education, v32 n2 p251-269 Apr 2017
Studies have generally characterized school psychologists as a relative homogenous population. Understanding the differences in professional practices and related variables is important for the development of the profession. Using a sample of 446 Portuguese school psychologists, this study used cluster analysis to identify distinct profiles of professional activity, based on practitioners' time distribution among different target audiences (i.e., students, parents, teachers, school board members, school non-professional staff, and other professionals within the school community). Three distinct profiles emerged from the data: a group highly oriented to work with students, a group that distributes time almost equitably between adults and students, and a group that concentrates attention and professional expertise on adults. Practice setting variables, such as school-psychologists-to-student ratio, school-psychologists-to-school ratio, number of referrals per year, and school community level of demand for different activities, were found to be significantly related to cluster membership. No personal- or professional-background-related variables differentiated the three groups. The main implications of these findings are discussed in light of recent literature regarding the models of service delivery for school psychologists.
Descriptors: School Psychologists, Multivariate Analysis, Profiles, Foreign Countries, School Psychology, Counseling Services, Referral, Adults, Students, Parents, Administrators, Counselor Teacher Cooperation, Time Management, School Personnel
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Portugal
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A