INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE “Advancing Standards in Psychology Assessment: Research and Practice in Albania” (ASPA-26) June 24, 2026 - Shkodër

The Department of Psychology and Social Work, University of Shkodër “Luigj Gurakuqi”, in partnership with the European University of Tirana (UET) and the Order of Psychologists in Albania, has the honor of organizing the International Scientific Conference: “Advancing Standards in Psychological Assessment: Research and Practice in Albania.” 

The conference is organized within the framework of the national research project “Psychological Assessment Instruments in Albania: Challenges, Gaps, and Perspectives for Evidence-Based Practice,” funded by the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation (AKKSHI). 

Psychological services play a critical role in promoting individual well-being, social inclusion, justice, and sustainable development. In this context, the use of reliable and culturally appropriate psychological assessment instruments and evidence-based intervention models is essential for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of professional practice. However, in emerging and developing professional contexts, significant challenges remain regarding the standardization, validation, and ethical use of assessment tools, as well as the integration of research findings into practice. 

In Albania, ongoing efforts to standardize psychological assessment tools highlight broader questions related to: 

• Evidence-based practice 

• Cultural adaptation and validation of instruments 

• Professional ethics and accountability 

• Institutional regulation and accreditation mechanisms 

This conference aims to create a scientific and professional space for critical reflection, the dissemination of research findings, and constructive dialogue on how to strengthen standards in psychological assessment and intervention at national and regional levels.  

Purpose of the Conference 

The purpose of the conference is to promote scientific research, critical analysis, and interdisciplinary dialogue in psychology and related fields, contributing to the enhancement of psychological assessment and intervention practices in Albania and beyond. 

The conference seeks to: 

• Promote the use of evidence-based methods and validated instruments in psychological assessment 
• Encourage scholarly debate on the standardization, accreditation, and quality assurance of assessment tools 
• Strengthen the link between research and professional practice 
• Expand networking and inter-institutional collaboration at national and international levels 
• The conference will also serve as a forum for the reflection and dissemination of preliminary research findings, enabling the active engagement of academics and practitioners in shaping recommendations for improving professional standards. 

General Themes 

The Conference Programme Committee welcomes submissions from diverse theoretical, empirical, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Papers may address, but are not limited to, the following themes: 

• Clinical psychology and psychological assessment in mental health settings 
• Forensic psychology and psychological assessment 
• Community-based psychological interventions and assessment 
• Psychological well-being and quality of life  
• Childhood, family, and community systems 
• Trauma, violence, psychological assessment and support 
• Professional ethics in psychological assessment 
• Research methodology and innovation in psychology 
• Psychometrics, test development, and validation 
• Digital mental health and AI-supported psychological assessment  
• Cross-cultural and contextual issues in psychological assessment 
• Psychological assessment in educational and school settings 

 Project-Dedicated Panel

A dedicated panel within the conference will present and discuss the findings of the national research project on the standardization of psychological assessment instruments in Albania: “Psychological Assessment Instruments in Albania: Challenges, Gaps, and Perspectives for Evidence-Based Practice,” funded by the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation (AKKSHI).

This panel aims not only to disseminate the project findings but also to engage the broader scientific and professional community in shaping future standards.

Invitation to Contribute

The Conference Programme Committee warmly invites academics, researchers, doctoral candidates, practitioners, and representatives of professional bodies to submit their abstracts and contribute to this important interdisciplinary dialogue.

Together, we aim to advance quality and evidence in psychological assessment and intervention in Albania.

Key Information:

Practical information

The abstract (250-300 words) will contain author’s/authors’ details, the study’s purpose, research questions, research methodology, (potential) results, including any recommendations if any.

The submission language is English. The time allocated to each presentation will be 10 minutes, and it can be held online or face to face (the corresponding author is expected to express this choice when submitting the abstract).

Presentation Formats

Oral Presentation (10 minutes)

This is the standard presentation format. In an oral presentation the presenter delivers their research to their audience verbally, often accompanied by a PowerPoint slideshow.

Virtual Presentation (10 minutes)

Virtual presentations afford authors the opportunity to present their research to conference far-reaching and international online audience. This is a valuable and impactful way of presenting in its own right, but also an alternative means for those delegates who may be unable to travel to the conference due to different restrictions. The same publishing opportunities apply to virtual presenters, with final papers being included in the Conference Proceedings.

Conference Proceedings

If you wish your paper to be published in the Conference Proceedings, please ensure that you send your full paper through email aspa-26@unishk.edu.al by 01.07.2026.

Final papers are only accepted in Microsoft Word format. Before submitting your paper please ensure that you have read the Final Paper Guidelines (see below) and formatted your paper correctly.

The official Conference Proceedings will be published online in a PDF format and hard copy under an ISBN issued by the University of Shkoder “Luigj Gurakuqi” on October, 2026.

Final Paper Submission

If your abstract has been accepted, and you presented the work, you are encouraged to submit a full paper via e-mail for inclusion in the Conference Proceedings. Further details of how to submit your paper are provided below.

“Advancing Standards in Psychology Assessment: Research& Practice, in Albania (ASPA-26)”

Conference Proceedings are Open Access research repositories that act as permanent records of the research generated by ASPA conference.

Please send your final paper through email aspa-26@unishk.edu.al by 01.07.2026, having thoroughly checked it for errors and formatted it according to the Submission Guidelines below.

Important

• The full article must be submitted as a MS Word file in DOC or DOCX format (PDF format is not accepted).
• Before submitting your paper, please ensure that the English used is clear, concise and coherent. This is especially important if English is not your first language.

Submission Guidelines

Please format your Conference Proceedings paper according to the following guidelines, style checklist and paper template, and submit it through e mail. Papers that do not follow these guidelines will be returned for editing.

Article Structure

Please use the article structure outlined below.

• Title
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusions
• Appendices
• Acknowledgements
• Footnotes
• References
• Resources

Style Checklist

• APA Style Guide
• 12-point Times New Roman font.
• All paragraphs and body text justified and single spaced.
• Set page size to A4.
• Margins: Microsoft Word ‘Normal’ (2.54 cm).
• Manuscripts not to exceed 5,000 words each (excluding tables, figures and references). Manuscripts longer than 5,000 words will be returned for editing.
• All figures must be inserted in a JPEG image format, within the page margins. Centre images. Do not insert loose objects such as arrows, lines, or text boxes. Number and caption below the figure (Figure 1: Caption), centre aligned.
• Tables should be created within the Microsoft Word document, should fit onto one A4 page and should be numbered and captioned below the table, centre aligned.
• Bold any section/paragraph headers and left align.
• Do not use any page headers, footers or page numbers (footnotes are acceptable).
• Use only portrait layout. Do not include any pages in landscape layout.
• Corresponding author contact email address should be added to the end of the paper after references.
• Optional: Acknowledgements (max. 150 words) to be included as the last section before reference list.
• References to be single spaced (indented after first line of reference).
• Title page information to include:
  • Title of the paper.
  • Author names and affiliations: Provide authors' affiliation details (where the work was done) including full institution name and country.
  • Abstract: A concise and factual abstract not exceeding 250 words is required.
  • Keywords: Immediately following the abstract provide a minimum of three keywords.

If you have further questions, please contact the organizers at the address: aspa-26@unishk.edu.al