Developing a competency framework for the initial training of educational psychologists working with children and young people who present with sleep issues

  • Jemma Bird

Student thesis: Doctor of Educational and Child Psychology

Abstract

An increased number of night-wakings and reduced sleep efficacy has been associated with compromised neuro-behavioural functioning in school-age children (Sadeh, Gruber and Raviv, 2003). A systematic literature review investigated the potential effects of technology use upon educational achievement and the implications of this to the role of the educational psychologist. The empirical research adopted the conventional three-phase Delphi Technique (Dalkey, 1969) to gather the views of 15 educational psychologists. The first survey asked participants to generate topics pertinent to seven proposed competencies and rate the extent to which importance is placed on each. Participants were provided with a summary of their individual responses in relation to the wider group and asked to reconsider their views based on this new information. The empirical research also collected the views of programme directors of British Psychological Society accredited training courses of educational psychology in the United Kingdom (n = 5) regarding the teaching of sleep. All survey data was analysed quantitatively and qualitatively, employing content analysis to feedback received from the participants. The response rate of programme directors was recorded. The findings indicated the core competencies that achieved a consensus by the participant group as being of high importance for the initial training of educational psychologists. The research was also able to reflect upon the qualitative responses gathered in order to discuss the implications for practice in the field.
Date of Award31 Dec 2017
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • The University of Manchester
SupervisorKevin Woods (Supervisor) & Kathleen Tyldesley (Supervisor)

Keywords

  • Delphi Technique
  • learning
  • 0-25 years
  • educational psychologist
  • technology
  • sleep

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