Competencies developed by the students of the psychology faculty, universidad de buenos aires

Abstract

This paper presents the data obtained in the framework of the research project UBACyT 2011-2014: “Attitudes regarding professional ethics of the university undergraduate and graduate students, Universidad de Buenos Aires’ School of Psychology. A descriptive exploratory study based on a qualitative and quantitative research method. †This project, directed by PhD. Elizabeth B. Ormart, aims to survey the attitudes regarding professional ethics of the undergraduate students of the Psychology Program, Universidad de Buenos Aires. It is stated that based only on the students’ attitudes is where we can think about what kind of adjustments are needed to educate professionals ethically committed to their profession. To achieve the goal of the investigation, the Ethical Attitudes Scale Hirsch et al. -originally developed in Spanish and validated with Spanish university population was adapted and put into practice. This scale, which is based on the model of the theory of reasoned action by Fishbein and Ajzen (Escámez, 1988 and 1991) is composed of 55 statements referred to four skills: cognitive, social, ethical and affective-emotional. The sample consists of 781 students, of both genders, who belong to the University of Buenos Aires’ School of Psychology. Their ages range from 25 to 53 years. The survey results show that students of psychology of the UBA value primarily cognitive and technical skills, secondly, ethical competences, thirdly affective-emotional skills and, finally, social skills.