Training in Psychology and the Institutional Scientific Initiation Scholarship Program

Abstract This study has investigated how the Institutional Scientific Initiation Scholarship Program (PIBIC, in Portuguese), strategic initiative for research training at the undergraduate level, contributes to the formation of psychologists. Electronic questionnaires were sent to the PIBIC scholarship students of psychology in Brazil (622; 104 answered), containing questions about developed activities and tutoring. Scientific production was also investigated through their Lattes (curriculum vitae). Results show that: (1) students perform technical activities and reflective ones; (2) 50% execute a personal scientific project; and (3) 25% of the students have published scientific articles or book chapters, demonstrating that they are possibly excluded from this phase of the research process. However, the proximity with the advisor is related to the accomplishment of tasks, which contributes to a reflective training. Finally, it is emphasized the potential role for the undergraduate education to develop more critical psychologists able to propose contextualized practices.