The History and Organization of the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA)

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard P. J. Freeman ◽  
Sabine Steyaert
Keyword(s):  
Administrative Support ◽  
European Federation ◽  
Executive Council ◽  
Task Forces ◽  
Working Groups ◽  
Professional Psychologists

In 1981, the European Federation of Professional Psychologists’ Associations (EFPPA) was formed with 13 member associations (one per country) and no centralized administrative support. Thirty years later, EFPPA has become EFPA with 35 member associations representing about 300,000 psychologists across Europe. EFPA is now based in offices in the center of Brussels, the administrative heart of Europe, with a Director and staff who support the work of the EFPA Executive Council and the various Standing Committees, Task Forces, and Working Groups. In this article, the development of EFPA and the challenges faced, and mostly overcome, are outlined.

Test Use in Spain, Portugal and Latin American Countries

1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Muñiz ◽  
Gerardo Prieto ◽  
Leandro Almeida ◽  
Dave Bartram
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Test Construction ◽  
European Federation ◽  
Psychometric Characteristics ◽  
Testing Practices ◽  
Professional Psychologists ◽  
Test Use ◽  
Latin American Countries

Summary: The two main sources of errors in educational and psychological evaluation are the lack of adequate technical and psychometric characteristics of the tests, and especially the failure to properly implement the testing process. The main goal of the present research is to study the situation of test construction and test use in the Spanish-speaking (Spain and Latin American countries) and Portuguese-speaking (Portugal and Brazil) countries. The data were collected using a questionnaire constructed by the European Federation of Professional Psychologists Association (EFPPA) Task Force on Tests and Testing, under the direction of D. Bartram . In addition to the questionnaire, other ad hoc data were also gathered. Four main areas of psychological testing were investigated: Educational, Clinical, Forensic and Work. Key persons were identified in each country in order to provide reliable information. The main results are presented, and some measures that could be taken in order to improve the current testing practices in the countries surveyed are discussed. As most of the tests used in these countries were originally developed in other cultures, a problem that appears to be especially relevant is the translation and adaptation of tests.

Testing Practices in the 21st Century

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 300-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne Evers ◽  
José Muñiz ◽  
Dave Bartram ◽  
Dusica Boben ◽  
Jens Egeland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
European Countries ◽  
European Federation ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Standing Committee ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Testing Practices ◽  
Professional Psychologists ◽  
Test Use ◽  
And Training ◽  
Total Item

The main goal of the European Federation of Psychologists’Associations (EFPA) Standing Committee on Tests and Testing (SCTT) is the improvement of testing practices in European countries. In order to reach this goal, the SCTT carries out various actions and projects, some of which are described in this paper. To better inform its work, it decided to survey the opinions of professional psychologists on testing practices. A questionnaire of 33 items was administered to a sample of 12,606 professional psychologists from 17 European countries. The questionnaire was based on, but not identical to, one used in 2000. The new data show that the positive attitude of the respondents toward the use of tests that was obtained in 2000 has increased in most countries, with a high percentage of the surveyed psychologists using tests regularly. Five main dimensions explained 43% of the total item variance. The dimensions involve items relating to: Concern over incorrect test use, regulations on tests and testing, Internet testing, appreciation of tests, and knowledge and training relating to tests and test use. Important differences between countries were found on these five dimensions. Differences were found according to gender for four of the five dimensions and in relation to field of specialization for all five dimensions. The most commonly used tests are the classic psychometric tests of intelligence and personality: WISC, WAIS, MMPI, RAVEN, 16PF, NEO-PI-R, BDI, SCL-90. Finally, some future perspectives are discussed.

Guidelines for Test Users: A Review of National and International Initiatives

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave Bartram
Keyword(s):  
Good Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
European Federation ◽  
Assessment Practices ◽  
Standing Committee ◽  
National Initiatives ◽  
Professional Psychologists ◽  
Test Use ◽  
Innovation And Change ◽  
Test User

Summary: The paper describes why we need guidelines on test use and why, in particular, we need international agreement on what these guidelines should be. The work of the International Test Commission (ITC) is described and the ITC 's International Guidelines on Test Use are reviewed. Various other important national initiatives in Britain, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States are described together with the work of the European Federation of Professional Psychologists Associations (EFPPA) Standing Committee on Tests and Testing. While there is considerable agreement on what constitutes good practice in test use, there is wide diversity in the ways in which different countries have attempted to implement good practice or regulate test use. The need for guidelines and test user qualification procedures to be sufficiently flexible to accommodate innovation and change in assessment practices is stressed.

Psychology as an Ethical Discipline and Profession

1996 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff Lindsay
Keyword(s):  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Scientific Discipline ◽  
Individual Therapy ◽  
European Federation ◽  
Ethical Codes ◽  
Professional Discipline ◽  
The Status ◽  
Disciplinary Procedures ◽  
National Boundaries ◽  
Professional Psychologists

One of the hallmarks of a professional discipline is the status of an ethical code. Psychology poses particular problems in the development of a code as it is both a scientific discipline and an applied profession. In addition, the range of coverage of psychology, including client groups, work institutions, and specific practices, requires the coverage of a code to be even more broad. For example, clients may include both the autonomous and powerful, and the socially and psychologically vulnerable; activities include individual therapy, research, consultancy, and assessment. The European Federation of Professional Psychologists' Associations (EFPPA) has ratified a Meta-code of Ethics to guide the developments in its member associations. While this initiative is important and useful, it is argued in this paper that it is necessary that there should be a wider appreciation of the issues pertinent to the development of such codes. These include purpose, specificity of statements, comparability across national boundaries, and links with disciplinary procedures. It is also argued that ethical codes must be recognized as social constructions, the results of tensions between professionally identified behaviors and constraints imposed by the society in which the association operates. These constraints include both those specific to psychology and other similar disciplines and professions, and factors within the sociopolitical system as a whole. Finally, recommendations are made for the development of ethical codes by European psychological associations.

Testing Practices in European Countries

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Muñiz ◽  
Dave Bartram ◽  
Arne Evers ◽  
Dusica Boben ◽  
Kruno Matesic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Professional Practice ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Active Role ◽  
European Federation ◽  
Technological Tools ◽  
Personality Questionnaires ◽  
Testing Practices ◽  
Professional Psychologists ◽  
The Right ◽  
Depression Scales

Summary: Tests constitute one of the technological tools most frequently used by psychologists in their professional practice. Like any other scientific technology, tests can be used both in appropriate and inappropriate ways. Currently, various institutions, both national and international, are developing projects and activities aimed at improving testing practices. In Europe, the Task Force on Tests and Testing created by the European Federation of Professional Psychologists' Associations (EFPPA) designed a questionnaire to sample the opinions of professional psychologists about tests and testing in order to help in making the right decisions for improving testing practices in Europe. This paper presents the results obtained using the EFPPA Questionnaire. A sample of 3,455 Spanish, 2,407 English, 2,079 Dutch, 321 Slovenian, 218 Croatian, and 210 Belgian psychologists responded to the questionnaire. In general, European psychologists show a positive attitude toward tests and testing, while at the same time expressing the need for institutions to adopt a more active role in promoting good testing practices. Results show that the tests most frequently used are intelligence tests, personality questionnaires, and depression scales. Finally, the results are analyzed in detail, and some possible measures for improving testing practices in Europe are discussed.

Sustainable Private Public Dialogues for Improving Local Economic Development in Tanzania: A Case of Kigoma Region

2021 ◽  
pp. 199-209
Author(s):  
Kaihula P. Bishagazi
Keyword(s):  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Depth Information ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Task Forces ◽  
Local Areas ◽  
Working Groups ◽  
Permanent Working ◽  
Private Sector Organizations

This paper presents findings of the study to examine the current PPD practices in Kigoma region in order to identify main challenges and gaps in the current PPD model in order to provide appropriate recommendations for improvement of the current PPD practices. The researcher adopted a qualitative research approach in order to obtain in-depth information about PPDs practices from participants who share the same mandate; using the case study of Kasulu and Kibondo district councils. The targeted population included government officials, traders, farmers, Private Sector Organizations, financial institutions and influential people in the respective areas. These respondents were selected purposively because they were knowledgeable and informative about PPD practices taking place at Kasulu and Kibondo Districts. In total, 120 respondents were interviewed in both districts. The study found that Kigoma region has adopted “the hub” PPD model which involves a dedicated secretariat charged with mobilizing constructive dialogues. However, PPD practices are currently constrained with limited capacity in terms of finance, tools, technical know-how, influence, and convincing power to stretch across different government departments and agencies. In order to improve PPD forums, main recommendations include forming permanent working groups based on the important sectors in the local areas, appropriation of funds to the task forces/ working groups and that policy should be designed to ensure that members for the PPDs have specific tenure.

Presidential Address 2019–Re-visioning Language, Texts, and Theories

PMLA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (3) ◽  
pp. 450-458
Author(s):  
Anne Ruggles Gere
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Student ◽  
Graduate School ◽  
Executive Director ◽  
Presidential Address ◽  
Vice President ◽  
Executive Council ◽  
Composition And Rhetoric ◽  
Chicago Convention ◽  
Job Market ◽  
Task Forces

I attended my first MLA convention in Chicago, in 1973. A frugal graduate student, I stayed at a nearby YMCA but huddled in the evenings with a friend from graduate school in the Palmer House lobby where we shared, surreptitiously, a flask of bourbon and laments about the awful job market. I could never have imagined that forty-five years later I would be delivering the presidential address. During the years since that Chicago convention, I have worked with the executive director Phyllis Franklin, who invited me and a few others to think with her about how the MLA might accommodate what we then called composition and rhetoric. I have worked with Rosemary Feal, who became the executive director as I joined the Delegate Assembly Organizing Committee and who left the MLA shortly after persuading me to stand for election to the office of second vice president. In my participation on task forces, division committees, the Publications Committee, the Delegate Assembly Organizing Committee, the Executive Council, and most recently as an officer, I have been continually impressed by the talent, commitment, and resourcefulness of those who work for the MLA. I am grateful to belong to an association with such an excellent staff, and I want to offer special thanks to my friend Paula Krebs, whose first full year as executive director coincided with my term as president. Her keen intelligence, administrative skill, and fierce advocacy for our profession convince me that the MLA is in very good hands.

Transnational Ethical Guidance and the Development of the EFPA Meta-Code of Ethics

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff Lindsay
Keyword(s):  
National Security ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
European Federation ◽  
Ethical Practice ◽  
Fitness For Purpose ◽  
Ethical Guidance ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Unethical Practice ◽  
Corrective Actions ◽  
Professional Psychologists

Ethical practice is one of the fundamental characteristics of a profession. The development of common codes was an early aim of the European Federation of Professional Psychologists Associations (EFPPA), now the European Federation of Psychologists Associations (EFPA), which sought to develop common standards across Member Associations. This paper describes: the development of the Meta-Code of Ethics, approved in 1995; the subsequent review of its fitness for purpose, leading to the second edition in 2005; and other guidance on ethical practice, including procedures for the evaluation of alleged unethical practice and for determining corrective actions to be taken, including mediation. The success of the Meta-code is reviewed, including its contribution to current initiatives to develop universal ethical practice by psychologists, in the context of new challenges arising from developments within psychology and from changes within society, including concerns about national security.

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