The Italian School Psychologists’ Role: A Qualitative Study about Professional Practices and Representations
School psychologists’ relevance has been broadly affirmed. However, there is no shared definition of their professional role, and more efforts are needed to promote an organisational and whole-school approach. The present study aims to investigate practices and representations of Italian school psyc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-09-01
|
| Series: | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/11/4/84 |
| _version_ | 1797505289375711232 |
|---|---|
| author | Claudia Meroni Laura Fagnani Emanuela Confalonieri Davide Baventore Veronica Velasco |
| author_facet | Claudia Meroni Laura Fagnani Emanuela Confalonieri Davide Baventore Veronica Velasco |
| author_sort | Claudia Meroni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | School psychologists’ relevance has been broadly affirmed. However, there is no shared definition of their professional role, and more efforts are needed to promote an organisational and whole-school approach. The present study aims to investigate practices and representations of Italian school psychologists, advance knowledge of the status and development of school psychology, and learn more about the approaches currently adopted in schools. A qualitative method was used and 11 focus groups with a total of 86 participants were carried out. Ad hoc instruments were defined. The results highlighted that school psychologists are more focused on building one-on-one relationships, whereas relationships with the organisation as a whole appear to be more difficult. However, participants reported a wide range of activities, targeted to both the individual and the organisation. Moreover, efforts to strengthen the relationships with school principals and the entire school community were described. Specific needs emerged and the necessity to better define the school psychologists’ role was reported by the participants. More efforts are needed to promote an organisational approach among Italian school psychologists and specific training should be offered. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:16:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4f8995929f545aa8993919573c391b2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2174-8144 2254-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:16:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4f8995929f545aa8993919573c391b22023-11-23T08:00:23ZengMDPI AGEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education2174-81442254-96252021-09-011141134115510.3390/ejihpe11040084The Italian School Psychologists’ Role: A Qualitative Study about Professional Practices and RepresentationsClaudia Meroni0Laura Fagnani1Emanuela Confalonieri2Davide Baventore3Veronica Velasco4Ordine degli Psicologi della Lombardia, 20124 Milan, ItalyOrdine degli Psicologi della Lombardia, 20124 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, ItalyOrdine degli Psicologi della Lombardia, 20124 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Milano-Bicocca University, 20126 Milan, ItalySchool psychologists’ relevance has been broadly affirmed. However, there is no shared definition of their professional role, and more efforts are needed to promote an organisational and whole-school approach. The present study aims to investigate practices and representations of Italian school psychologists, advance knowledge of the status and development of school psychology, and learn more about the approaches currently adopted in schools. A qualitative method was used and 11 focus groups with a total of 86 participants were carried out. Ad hoc instruments were defined. The results highlighted that school psychologists are more focused on building one-on-one relationships, whereas relationships with the organisation as a whole appear to be more difficult. However, participants reported a wide range of activities, targeted to both the individual and the organisation. Moreover, efforts to strengthen the relationships with school principals and the entire school community were described. Specific needs emerged and the necessity to better define the school psychologists’ role was reported by the participants. More efforts are needed to promote an organisational approach among Italian school psychologists and specific training should be offered.https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/11/4/84school psychologyschool psychologistsprofessional rolewhole-school approachschool practicesschool organisation |
| spellingShingle | Claudia Meroni Laura Fagnani Emanuela Confalonieri Davide Baventore Veronica Velasco The Italian School Psychologists’ Role: A Qualitative Study about Professional Practices and Representations European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education school psychology school psychologists professional role whole-school approach school practices school organisation |
| title | The Italian School Psychologists’ Role: A Qualitative Study about Professional Practices and Representations |
| title_full | The Italian School Psychologists’ Role: A Qualitative Study about Professional Practices and Representations |
| title_fullStr | The Italian School Psychologists’ Role: A Qualitative Study about Professional Practices and Representations |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Italian School Psychologists’ Role: A Qualitative Study about Professional Practices and Representations |
| title_short | The Italian School Psychologists’ Role: A Qualitative Study about Professional Practices and Representations |
| title_sort | italian school psychologists role a qualitative study about professional practices and representations |
| topic | school psychology school psychologists professional role whole-school approach school practices school organisation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/11/4/84 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT claudiameroni theitalianschoolpsychologistsroleaqualitativestudyaboutprofessionalpracticesandrepresentations AT laurafagnani theitalianschoolpsychologistsroleaqualitativestudyaboutprofessionalpracticesandrepresentations AT emanuelaconfalonieri theitalianschoolpsychologistsroleaqualitativestudyaboutprofessionalpracticesandrepresentations AT davidebaventore theitalianschoolpsychologistsroleaqualitativestudyaboutprofessionalpracticesandrepresentations AT veronicavelasco theitalianschoolpsychologistsroleaqualitativestudyaboutprofessionalpracticesandrepresentations AT claudiameroni italianschoolpsychologistsroleaqualitativestudyaboutprofessionalpracticesandrepresentations AT laurafagnani italianschoolpsychologistsroleaqualitativestudyaboutprofessionalpracticesandrepresentations AT emanuelaconfalonieri italianschoolpsychologistsroleaqualitativestudyaboutprofessionalpracticesandrepresentations AT davidebaventore italianschoolpsychologistsroleaqualitativestudyaboutprofessionalpracticesandrepresentations AT veronicavelasco italianschoolpsychologistsroleaqualitativestudyaboutprofessionalpracticesandrepresentations |