Diskursanalyse av hvordan evidensbasert praksis konstrueres i Prinsipperklæringen om evidensbasert psykologisk behandling

Evidence based psychological practice is the subject of debate in the Norwegian and international psychological academic fields. The debate concerns whether psychological practice can be standardized and the knowledge base for evidence based practice. The underlying assumptions for this, however, is insufficiently elaborated. We carried out a discourse analysis with the following research questions: 1. How is evidence based practice constructed? 2. What consequences can these constructions pose for psychologists? The Norwegian Psychological Association's policy statement on evidence based psychological practice was used as text material, as it defines evidence based practice and is a guiding document for Norwegian psychologists. Utilizing Parker's (1992) approach to Foucauldian discourse analysis, we identified four dicourses: Discourse of clinical autonomy, psy-complex discourse, positivistic discourse and neo-liberal discourse. Our analysis indicates that the psy-complex discourse, positivistic discourse and neo-liberal discourse in general seem to support and enable standardizing and governance of mental health services. Discourse of clinical autonomy allows for more independence and discretion for the clinician. We argue that evidence based practice is governing, and based on a homogenous knowledge base, at the expense of the psychologist's clinical autonomy. Our study proposes to broaden the field of knowledge regarding evidence based practice

Presidents between National Unity and Ethnic Divisions : Public Trust across the Baltic States

The Baltic presidents have in common that they are supposed to embody the ‘nation’ and to provide an image of their countries abroad. But can the president embody the people if “the people” itself is divided? In this paper, we will focus on public trust in the presidency between the majority and minority population in the Baltic states. Drawing on public opinion surveys, the aim is to examine the determinants of public trust in the presidential institution and support for the performance and principles of the political system as well identification with the political community itself. Among our findings, we conclude that ethnic or linguistic identity explains trust to a considerable degree, which suggests that trust is not only an expression of specific political support but also part of a more deep-seated, diffuse support

Fear and loathing in Lithuania

As an EU-member, Lithuania has to a large extent set up institutional mechanisms to combat homophobia. It has implemented anti-discrimination laws that are roughly in line with EU norms. At the same time, the country does not allow same-sex marriage, fails to recognize same-sex partnership (or indeed any form of civil partnership), and does not allow homosexual couples to adopt children. A still greater problem, note the authors, is that the political and cultural climate remains deeply hostile towards homosexuality and towards recognizing the rights of individuals of a minority sexual orientation

Lithuania

Vilniaus universiteta