CYPRS and the Vignette-matching Project:  

An innovative approach to assess competencies in psychology and clinical practicum

This project is a multi-site project funded by an Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Grant to a research team headed by Associate Professor Craig Gonsalvez. Six NSW universities are collaborating in an ambitious effort to improve assessment tools used for end-placement ratings by field supervisors on student competencies.The project involves an evaluation of the Clinical Psychology Practicum Competencies Rating Scale (CYPRS) currently used by field supervisors to rate clinical trainees and (ii) the designing and standardisation of a catalogue of vignettes.

Research & Clinical Team»

Mid and end-placement evaluations by field supervisors

University and field supervisors can complete ONLINE mid- and end-placement evaluations for clinical psychology trainees. Supervisors who would like to complete the evaluation in hardcopy must contact the Clinic Director of the concerned university. The online version is specially designed to be user-friendly and has several advantages. We strongly encourage field supervisors to use this option.

A. To COMPLETE the CYPRS to fulfil training requirements of the University AND have your ratings EXCLUDED from any research 

• Click on Logo => Reject Research Invitation => Complete CYPRS

B. To COMPLETE the CYPRS to fulfil training requirements of the University AND consider inclusion of your de-identified data in research, 

• Click on Logo => Review Research Information => OPT IN or OPT OUT of Research => Complete CYPRS (No additional task required of you)

C. To COMPLETE the CYPRS to fulfil training requirements of the University AND consider participating in the Vignette Study

• Click on Logo => Review Research Information => OPT IN or OPT OUT of Research Options => Complete CYPRS & Vignette task if appropriate (Completion of vignettes is additional, about 20 mins; you receive a $25 book/entertainment voucher)

Entry into any of the above options is via the logo, so to progress click on the logo of the university in which the student is enrolled.

Mid-Placement Forms	End-Placement Forms
Sample CYPRS
Sample CYPRS MPR NOT for student evaluation	Sample CYPRS EPR NOT for student evaluation
Sample - Vignette Matching Project

Conferences and workshops

The project’s work has been disseminated as multiple presentations at national and international conferences and workshops as indicated below.

Rating clinical competencies in externships. Can we enhance training outcomes? [pdf 458kb] Invited presentation at the Clinical Psychology Curriculum Conference, Brisbane, 20-21 May 2011.

A multi-site study on the assessment of clinical psychology competencies by field supervisors: should vignettes replace rating scales? [pdf 411kb] Paper presented at the Seventh International Interdisciplinary Conference on Clinical Supervision, Adelphi University, New York, 8-10 June 2011.

The use of vignettes to capture clinical psychology practicum competencies: vignette standardisation and preliminary results. [pdf 49kb] Presented at the ATN Assessment Conference 2011: Meeting the challenges, Curtin University, Perth, 20-21 October 2011.

Where angels fear to tread. Leniency and the halo effects in practicum-based assessment of student competencies. [pdf 15kb] Paper presented at the Australian Technology Network of Universities Conference: Meeting the challenges, Curtin University, Perth, 20-21 October.2011.

The vignette project: an innovative method to assess practicum competencies. [pdf 292kb] Paper presented at a Clinical Psychology Workshop, Field Supervisors’ Assessment of Trainee Competence in Clinical Psychology: Evidence and Practice. Carleton Clinic, Cumbria, National Health Service, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, 13 June 2011.

The vignette procedure as an instrument of competency measurement: preliminary results and future directions. [pdf 328kb] Invited presentation at the Annual Psychology Clinic Directors Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 25-26 November 2011.