Development of a practice research network in Spain ( Desarrollo de una red de investigación orientada por la práctica en España )

Abstract

The purpose of practice research networks is to foster clinically relevant research and scientifically informed clinical practice. This article describes the development of a collaborative network between clinicians and researchers in Spain and Argentina. This network is made up of psychologists specialized in clinical psychology, intern resident psychologists who are members of the Spanish Society of Clinical Psychology and researchers working at different universities. The main aim of the network is to foster the development of practice research programmes in a collaborative manner. We present its first project that analyses the sociodemographic data, professional characteristics, personal style of therapists and their attitudes towards research of 409 Spanish clinical psychologists. This approach meant understanding clinicians’ interests, and the beginning of a collaborative interaction to create useful resources for clinical practice based on applied research.