Teaching Psychotherapy Outcome Research Methodology Using a Research-Based Checklist

Abstract

Contemporary psychotherapy has been besieged by demands calling far evidence of its efficacy and far greater accountability of those who practice it. Thus, it is important for students to understand the special methodological problems associated with this type of research and to appreciate the important link between research and practice. This article summarizes a checklist of guidelines I use to teach students the basics of psychotherapy outcome research in several courses (e.g., abnormal, clinical, and even introductory psychology). The checklist is research-based and draws on techniques employed in recent representative psychotherapy outcome research studies. I suggest several variations in the pedagogical use of the checklist. Student evaluations support the usefulness of the checklist as a teaching tool.