The Scientific Practitioner Model Issues - Essay Example

The scientific practitioner model Institution: Name: Introduction The scientific practitioner model is a discourse that aims at positioning a psychological practitioner as a scientist (James, 1994). It can basically be described as an educational approach that involves the integration of scientific methods in the training of practitioners within the field of applied psychology. Over the years, the health care system has been experiencing various changes; this has resulted to an increased demand for psychological professionals. In order to deal with the changes, the scientific practitioner model was developed. Although the model has been reinforced, at the same time it has been criticized. There is therefore need to evaluate whether it is still relevant in society today. This paper seeks to examine whether the scientific practitioner model is outdated. The scope of the analysis will be based on discussing the positive and negative benefits of the model. The origin and development of the scientific practitioner model also referred to as the Boulder Model can be traced back to the Second World War when the veterans of the war retuned home with psychiatric and psychological challenges that needed to be addressed. In order to address these challenges, the Boulder Model was then developed in Boulder conference of 1950. In the conference psychologists supported the integration of scientific methods when training clinical psychologists. The key elements of the scientific practitioner model include the adoption of scientific principles and research within the field of psychology (John, 1998). It can be argued that the scientific practitioner model is not out dated. James (1994) argues that the changes taking place in the health system still indicate the need for the scientific practitioner model. For instance; the health care sector in Australia and also in many developing nations are experiencing tremendous changes. The changes include; alterations in the foundations upon which present health care practices are grounded essentially on biomedical disease model. Another significant change is the recognition of the involvement of behavior, health biology and social variables in influencing health and well being. When examining the changes in biomedical health care for instance. James (1994) takes note of that fact that through out the previous centauries health care has primarily been based on medicine. Nevertheless, the supremacy of medicine in the health care system is progressively reducing. This is because there is a growing awareness concerning the minimal effectiveness of the use of curative medicine in lowering mortality and morbidity. In most cases there is need for psychology to step in and assist in dealing with the many causes of mortality. Consequently, James (1994) argues that the acknowledgement in the existing limitations of curative medicine depicts the significant role of psychology within the health system. James (1994) therefore proposes that based on the fact that psychology has a potential contribution in well being and health it should add to the theory and practice of health experts. This can be done by a vigorous participation of psychologists in the transmission of psychological knowledge to other health professionals. Another significant proposal is the adherence/ observance of the scientific – practitioner model within psychological practice. Also, the scientific – practitioner model should be disseminated to other health professional. Therefore, based on the argument presented by James (1994) is can stated that the scientific – practitioner model is actually not outdated. It can also be argued that the scientific practitioner model is not out dated due to the fact that professional psychologists have taken up role of consultants within the health care system and ultimately improve the level of health and wellbeing. As James (1994) presented the various dynamic changes in the healthcare sector and there is need to continue integrating the scientific model in order to deal with this changes, Richards (1994) supports the views of James (1994) by highlighting that the contributions of psychology in the healthcare system cannot be ignored. In essence, the consultant model is actually a very useful approach in highlighting the contribution of psychologists in the health care system. For instance, the skills of psychologists are useful in conducting counseling whereby other professional in the health care system can consult psychologists concerning how to undertake counseling. The scientific practitioner model is not outdated because scientific contribution/ ideas will always be required in psychological practice. On the other hand, psychological contributions will always be required in the scientific practice. For instance when teaching a psychology class about the psychological effect of pressure, explanations have to be derived from science. The trainees have to understand blood pressure from a scientific perspective in order for them to fully conceptualize its psychological implications. On the other hand, when teaching a health care training class such as doctors and nurses who are usually educated on the sort term methods of elevating problems such as blood pressure, the educator has to look at psychological discourse such as behavioural change in order to provide full solutions the problem. Thus, in order to safeguard professional integrity and produce well qualified professional, it is vital to teach the basics of scientific epistemology to trainees in psychology. Consequently, it can be argued that the scientific practitioner model will always be in use and thus making it still relevant (James 1994). It can also be argued that the scientific practitioner model is not outdated due to the fact that the use of science is actually the most effective way of validating knowledge claims within the field of psychology. In most case, scientific research and experiments have been used to explain issues in psychology. As a result the scientific practitioner model cannot be disregarded mainly on the grounds that it is rhetoric. Furthermore, although tension exists due to the application of the model in psychology, nevertheless it can be stated that he approach is still relevant (James 1994). On the other hand, it can be argued that the scientific practitioner model is actually outdated. One of the basic reasons is due to the level of irrelevance of psychological theories to the context of the real world. Lee (2004) argues that even psychologist acknowledge the imperfection that exists in psychological theories. This is because majority of psychological theories frequently put emphasis on cognitive variables while disregarding significant social cultural impacts on behavior and environmental impacts. Despite of the efforts to integrate scientific theories in the field of psychology and also positioning psychological practitioners as a scientist, it has been difficult to transfer psychological theory into approaches that can deal with complexities that exist in the real world. For instance recent development in the understanding of the smoking of cigarettes disclose that despite of substantial progress in theoretical understanding of the process, cessation/ termination rates are actually very minimal. According to psychologists, these conclusions give an indication that there is need to redefine the psychological understanding of human behavior and its application to issues related to health (Lee, 2004).The continued irrelevance of psychological theories therefore gives an indication that the scientific practitioner model is actually outdated despite of the efforts to integrate scientific theories in the field of psychology. Also it can be argued that the scientific practitioner model is irrelevant and thus it is out dated due to its inability to address ethical and moral issues in society. The scientific practitioner model discourse educates students at the beginning that science is actually value free and has the objective of control and prediction. This therefore implies that psychologist as scientists do not have an input concerning matters to do with value. By encouraging students to think of themselves as rational scientific decision makers who work or operate in a moral vacuum, it therefore becomes difficult to resolve the moral and ethical challenges that exist in society today. Therefore, it can be stated that in order to develop a moral and ethical society, it is better for psychologists to derive their knowledge from principles or professional ethics as opposed to the use of scientific knowledge. This therefore makes the scientific practitioner model to be an outdated approach due to its inability to address moral and ethical issues in society (John, 1998). Cotton, (1998) argues that it is actually unquestionable that the reliance by psychologists on the narrow empirical perspective of science has greatly constrained the discourse of psychology and subsequently slowed down empirical research. In addition it is increasingly evident that the model has brought about a lot of tension ever since it was developed after the Second World War. The existence of tension has over the years led to different problems the development of a narrow empirical perspective in the field of psychology. Thus such challenges make the scientific practitioner model more irrelevant and outdated in modern society. Conclusion The discussion above has presented arguments on whether the scientific practitioner model is outdated. Some of the points or benefits highlighted to support the fact that the scientific practitioner model is not outdated include; the fact that the changes taking place in the health system still indicate the need for the scientific practitioner model. Also, professional psychologists have taken up role of consultants within the health care system. Another factor raised is that scientific contribution/ ideas will always be required in psychological practice and lastly the model is not outdated because science is actually the most effective way of validating knowledge claims within the field of psychology. The paper has also outlined factors that indicate that the model is outdated. This include irrelevance of psychological theories, the inability to address ethical and moral issues in society and the fact that the model has constrained the discourse of psychology and subsequently slowed down empirical research. In conclusion it can be stated that the model cannot totally be dismissed nevertheless there is need for research in order to develop a model that is more suitable in the long run. References Cotton,P.(1998). The framing Knowledge and practice in Psychology . A response to John. Australian Psychologist. 39(1), March, 31-35. John, I. (1998). The scientist–practitioner model: A critical examination. Australian Psychologist. 33(1), March, 24–30. James, J. E. (1994). Health care, psychology and the scientist–practitioner model. Australian Psychologist, 29(1), March, 5–11. Lee, C.(1994). Health care, Psychology and a healthy society: A command on James (1994). Australian Psychologist. 29(1), p15-17. Richards, J. (1994). Giving psychology away? A comment: ‘Health care, psychology and the scientist–practitioner model’ by James. Australian Psychologist, 29(1), March, 12–14. Read More

In most cases there is need for psychology to step in and assist in dealing with the many causes of mortality. Consequently, James (1994) argues that the acknowledgement in the existing limitations of curative medicine depicts the significant role of psychology within the health system. James (1994) therefore proposes that based on the fact that psychology has a potential contribution in well being and health it should add to the theory and practice of health experts. This can be done by a vigorous participation of psychologists in the transmission of psychological knowledge to other health professionals.

Another significant proposal is the adherence/ observance of the scientific – practitioner model within psychological practice. Also, the scientific – practitioner model should be disseminated to other health professional. Therefore, based on the argument presented by James (1994) is can stated that the scientific – practitioner model is actually not outdated. It can also be argued that the scientific practitioner model is not out dated due to the fact that professional psychologists have taken up role of consultants within the health care system and ultimately improve the level of health and wellbeing.

As James (1994) presented the various dynamic changes in the healthcare sector and there is need to continue integrating the scientific model in order to deal with this changes, Richards (1994) supports the views of James (1994) by highlighting that the contributions of psychology in the healthcare system cannot be ignored. In essence, the consultant model is actually a very useful approach in highlighting the contribution of psychologists in the health care system. For instance, the skills of psychologists are useful in conducting counseling whereby other professional in the health care system can consult psychologists concerning how to undertake counseling.

The scientific practitioner model is not outdated because scientific contribution/ ideas will always be required in psychological practice. On the other hand, psychological contributions will always be required in the scientific practice. For instance when teaching a psychology class about the psychological effect of pressure, explanations have to be derived from science. The trainees have to understand blood pressure from a scientific perspective in order for them to fully conceptualize its psychological implications.

On the other hand, when teaching a health care training class such as doctors and nurses who are usually educated on the sort term methods of elevating problems such as blood pressure, the educator has to look at psychological discourse such as behavioural change in order to provide full solutions the problem. Thus, in order to safeguard professional integrity and produce well qualified professional, it is vital to teach the basics of scientific epistemology to trainees in psychology. Consequently, it can be argued that the scientific practitioner model will always be in use and thus making it still relevant (James 1994).

It can also be argued that the scientific practitioner model is not outdated due to the fact that the use of science is actually the most effective way of validating knowledge claims within the field of psychology. In most case, scientific research and experiments have been used to explain issues in psychology. As a result the scientific practitioner model cannot be disregarded mainly on the grounds that it is rhetoric. Furthermore, although tension exists due to the application of the model in psychology, nevertheless it can be stated that he approach is still relevant (James 1994).

On the other hand, it can be argued that the scientific practitioner model is actually outdated. One of the basic reasons is due to the level of irrelevance of psychological theories to the context of the real world. Lee (2004) argues that even psychologist acknowledge the imperfection that exists in psychological theories. This is because majority of psychological theories frequently put emphasis on cognitive variables while disregarding significant social cultural impacts on behavior and environmental impacts.

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