BACKGROUND

The Canadian Psychological Association’s 2015 Psychology Graduate Survey (PGS) was inspired by the cancellation of several nationwide data collection efforts, particularly the University and College Academic Staff System survey (UCASS)1 and the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED). Respectively, these surveys represented over 60 years and over 30 years of data collection pertaining to Canadians with graduate degrees. The challenge presented by the loss of these invaluable data collection efforts prompted the CPA to undertake the first ever discipline-led, nation-wide survey of all Canadians with terminal graduate degrees in psychology (i.e., terminal master’s or doctorate).

The PGS was modeled on the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Doctorate Employment Survey (Michalski, Kohout, Wicherski, & Hart, 2011), which was used and modified with permission from the APA. The survey was designed to produce a minimal dataset relevant to the needs, supply, and demand of psychology graduates, with a limited number of questions on the survey marked as mandatory. Broadly speaking, the PGS was an attempt to obtain data reflecting the CPA’s three pillars (i.e., science, practice, and education) at both the national and provincial/territorial levels.

FINAL REPORT

Launched on April 24, 2015 in both official languages, the PGS remained open to respondents until December 1, 2015. The final sample of 4,441 respondents included 1,785 terminal master’s graduates and 2,656 doctoral graduates, providing invaluable data pertaining to the needs, supply, and demand of psychology graduates in (and from) Canada. CLICK HERE to read the final report summarizing the survey results.

CONTACT US

Need, supply and demand for psychologists and individuals with a graduate degree in psychology are pivotal topics for the profession, both scientists and practitioners alike. Click here for more information on the CPA’s efforts on this issue. Should you have any questions or comments about the survey, final report or the CPA’s efforts on this issue, please don’t hesitate to contact us at executiveoffice@cpa.ca.

1 The University and College Academic Staff System Survey (UCASS) was re-instated by the Liberal Government on September 16, 2016, nine months after the PGS closed its data collection period.