School needs and service delivery models in school psychology. A mixed methods study.

Title: School needs and service delivery models in school psychology. A mixed methods study. 

Principal Investigator: prof. Maria Cristina MATTEUCCI 

Project Team: 

Partners/Local Units: prof. Maria Cristina MATTEUCCI, prof. Patrizia SELLERI, prof. Consuelo MAMELI, dott. Sophia CORRIDORE, Prof. Giuseppina MARSICO, prof. Monica MOLLO, dott. Nadia DARIO, Prof. Sergio DI SANO, dott. Enrico DELEO 

Prof. Giuseppina MARSICO, University of Salerno 

Prof. Sergio DI SANO, University of Chieti-Pescara “G. d’Annunzio” 

Project Duration (in months): 24 

Start Date: 15/10/2023 

End Date 15/10/2025 

Status: active 

Total Cost of the project: € 230.617 

MUR funds: €181.049 

Budget EDU: € 85.660 

Project’s Topics: Existing and ideal school psychology services 

Description: In Italy, the role of school psychologists is still underdeveloped, with services often being irregular and lacking a clear structure or political backing. While some research indicates that psychologists are present in many schools, there is no consistent framework guiding how these services should be delivered. This creates a critical need to better understand and improve the functions and delivery models of school psychology services. 

This project seeks to address these gaps by exploring both the needs of schools and the current practices of school psychologists. Specifically, we aim to understand what students, teachers, and school leaders expect from psychological services, and how psychologists working in schools currently operate. By examining these two aspects, the project will identify best practices that can guide psychologists in effectively supporting the entire school community. 

To achieve this, a mixed-method study will be conducted across three Italian regions—Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzo, and Campania. This will involve conducting surveys with school principals, teachers, and students to gather their perspectives, as well as interviews with school psychologists to get a deeper understanding of their work. By combining both qualitative and quantitative data, we hope to develop a comprehensive view of the situation. 

The expected outcome of the project is to develop practical guidelines that will help school psychologists better meet the needs of students, teachers, and schools as a whole. Ultimately, we aim to strengthen the role of school psychologists in Italy, contributing to improved educational and psychological outcomes for the school community.