ESPLAT 2025 conference: Scientific thinking in challenging times

In an era characterized by multifaceted global challenges and rising skepticism towards science, critical scientific thinking and psychological literacy are important skills for psychology students. Psychological literacy involves the ability to apply psychological principles to various aspects of life and to think critically about mental processes and human behavior. Central to this capability is an understanding and reflection of the values underpinning psychological research and practice. The current project aims to create a learning environment where students can explore and reflect on values, recognize potential value conflicts, and collaboratively develop strategies for managing these conflicts. This initiative emphasizes engaging with fundamental values like social justice and respect for diversity, particularly within Community Psychology. By doing so, it seeks to enhance students’ ability to critically analyze psychological content and methods, thus contributing to their psychological literacy. We address the following questions: What gaps currently exist in students’ opportunities for value reflection and discussion within the psychology program? What are the barriers to implementing effective value reflection and discussion practices in a digital learning environment for psychology students? What topics and themes in value reflection and discussion are considered most relevant by students for inclusion in the curriculum? Based on these questions, the project adopts a participatory approach, engaging students in the co-creation of the learning environment. The project is ongoing. In the talk, we will present initial insights from the needs assessment, the course development and the mixed-methods evaluation approach.