Introduction
The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) has been established as a robust and practical method for evaluating clinical competencies in health science students, with wide application in fields such as medicine and, more recently, psychology. This pedagogical approach holds particular significance in the discipline of forensic psychology, where a key professional task for expert psychologists is the oral ratification of their reports within a courtroom setting. This high-stakes environment demands more than just theoretical knowledge; it requires the practical application of a wide range of skills, including effective verbal expression, the ability to withstand scrutiny during cross-examination, and the capacity to communicate complex psychological concepts clearly and persuasively to a lay audience.
Method
To address this specific training need, a simulated exercise of oral expert report ratification was meticulously designed as part of the University Master's Degree in Forensic Psychology at the International University of La Rioja. The exercise is structured into two distinct and challenging phases: the initial oral ratification and a subsequent cross-examination. The assessment was explicitly designed to evaluate key competencies, specifically focusing on technical and procedural skills, as well as essential interpersonal and communication abilities. This simulation-based training has been implemented across the last four academic cohorts, providing a valuable learning experience for a total of 208 postgraduate students during their final semester of study.
Results
The average score obtained by students on this activity was 7.14 out of 10, indicating a generally high level of performance. Student feedback collected via evaluation surveys reflected a high degree of satisfaction with the activity (9.04 out of 10). The most notable aspects were that the OSCE was a valuable learning experience, and that the activity effectively tested the competencies assigned to the learning outcomes.