This is an open invitation for authors to submit a Practice Review for possible publication in Group Dynamics. Such articles are a step toward enhancing the value and relevance of scientific research of group psychology and psychotherapy to practice. Group practice is defined broadly to include therapy groups, teams, organizations and other group contexts.
The aim of the Practice Review is to clarify, as much as the current state of knowledge permits, what empirically-derived findings in a given area imply for practice. In this type of review article, the reviewer begins the process with the intent of deriving implications for practice from the research and theory. The key question of a Practice Review is, "What is the most likely relationship between these variables, and what does that relationship imply for the group practitioner?"
The group practitioner must practice sometimes despite a general lack of fully consistent research findings. It will be useful for the practitioner to have access to the best available knowledge and its practice implications for group contexts. The reviewer needs to derive such implications with great care. However, the Practice Review does not necessarily convey the same degree of scientific skepticism that is typical of the classical scholarly review. In the Practice Review, the investigator searches for the most likely conclusion when all evidence is weighed and then seeks to apply that conclusion to practice in group psychology and group psychotherapy. For implications to be drawn, the findings need to be placed within the context of related findings, existing theory and other factors (e.g., pragmatic ones) that help the practitioner use the concepts to inform his or her practice.
Group Dynamics offers the following guidelines for Practice Reviews:
- Concepts and theories should be clearly articulated and defined at the outset. Their importance of the concepts to group practice should be obvious or clearly drawn with reference to existing theories and scholarly works.
- Authors should indicate that they conducted a systematic review of relevant scholarly data bases (PsychINFO, Pubmed, etc.), including indicating: what search terms they used, what criteria was used to retain articles for the review and how many articles were retrieved and retained.
- The approach from the beginning should be to find out what are the most likely conclusions about the relationships under investigation. Once the most likely conclusions are derived and placed in the context of related knowledge and theory, discuss what these findings imply for the group practitioner.
- Provide specific and actionable recommendations for practice based on the research. This may be aided with the use of a table, figure or flow-chart.
- In relating findings to practice, show an appreciation of the likelihood that the research-to-practice link will not be direct and clear cut. Rather, given the findings may relate to practice through their connection to theories, clinical wisdom, practical and political concerns, etc.
- The approach to the review ought to be that, although more research is likely needed, here is the best available knowledge and what it implies for practice.
- Vignettes of practice examples (either real or simulated) should be used to bring the concepts and research to life. This may be from therapy groups, teams, organizations and other group contexts.
- If real clinical or practice transcripts are used for the vignettes, then the author should receive appropriate consent and sufficiently de-identify the vignette to protect confidentiality and privacy.
- Practice Review manuscripts should be within the word limit indicated on the journal page.
The following are examples of what a Practice Review article might look like:
- Kivlighan, D. M. (2014). Three important clinical processes in individual and group interpersonal psychotherapy sessions. Psychotherapy, 51, 20-24.
Kivlighan reviewed the research and theory on important clinical processes in group therapy (here-now-focus, impact disclosures, and corrective emotional experience). He provides clinical examples of their impact on group processes and specific practice implications drawn from the research. Although the author draws from clinical examples, he article does not provide explicit transcript vignettes of the use of these concepts in the group.
- Kozlowski, S.W.J & Ilgen, D.R. (2006). Enhancing the effectiveness of work groups and teams. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 7, 77-124.
The authors review a large body of research on factors that improve the effectiveness of work groups and teams. The review focuses on empirical literature of cognitive, motivational/affective and behavioral team processes that enable team members effectively to combine their resources to resolve a task demand. The review provides some broad examples in its recommendations, but specific practice examples or vignettes are missing. The authors conclude by discussing interventions that shape team processes to make them more effective. They provide specific applied and policy recommendations to enhance work groups and teams.
- Salas, E., Tannenbaum, S.I., Kraiger, K., & Smith-Jentsch, K.A. (2012). The science of training and development in organizations: What matters in practice? Psychological Science in the Public Interest 13, 74–101.
The authors summarize the research on training and educational development in organizations and its positive impact on organizational outcomes. In particular, they review the way the training is designed, delivered and implemented and how these variables are related to outcomes. They conclude with implications for leaders and policymakers, and a discussion of issues that may arise when designing and implementing a training program.
- Tasca, G. A., Ritchie, K., & Balfour, L. (2011). Implications of attachment theory and research for the assessment and treatment of eating disorders. Psychotherapy, 48, 249-259.
The authors reviewed attachment theory and research and their implications for the group treatment of individuals with eating disorders. Specific examples of assessment, case formulation based on attachment concepts, and group psychotherapy were illustrated with clinical vignettes. The authors argued that assessing attachment dimensions can guide focused interventions in group therapy for eating disorders and provide a table indicating specific group interventions related to specific attachment styles.
Group Dynamics will begin accepting submissions for Practice Reviews starting January 2019. Authors interested in submitting a Practice Review are encouraged to contact the editor.