Classifications and salaries of psychologists in state mental hospital systems.

Afour-and-a-half page table summarizes job classifications and salaries of psychologists in the state mental hospital systems of 42 states. The data were acquired by means of a 3-page questionnaire directed to the various mental hospital authorities. "Although functions within state systems vary, indications are that the psychologist continues to find his role in this facet of public service administratively defined as one in which psychodiagnostic skills are primary." Noteworthy, however, "was the extent to which active involvement of the psychologist was also anticipated in the treatment process, research, and teaching of other institutional personnel." 2 states "specified that candidates for their top level positions must possess an ABEPP diploma, and two more expressed the desirability for such… . Twenty-five… states evidenced some enhancement of salary in the form of maintenance or residential perquisites." Major headings in the table refer to: state, job title, educational requirement, professional experience, annual salary, and residential perquisites. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Government support of extramural psychological research: fiscal year 1955.

"This is the third in a series of annual reports on the Federal Government's support of research in psychology and closely related areas by means of contracts and grants with colleges, universities, and other nongovernment agencies." It endeavors "… to provide systematic information on the amount and sources of funds which are available from the Federal Government for the support of psychological research." Four tables summarizing expenditures are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research survey: State mental health programs.

"In preparation for the 1959 meeting of chief psychologists in state mental health programs a questionnaire on research was prepared and sent to 77 psychologists who were either functioning as chief psychologists in state programs" or in similar positions. Replies were received from 39 individuals, representing 30 states. "Evaluation of treatment was listed most frequently as an area in need of research." At least 45 different types of ongoing research projects were listed. "Three factors were emphasized as the main obstacles to research in the state programs: lack of personnel… lack of funds… emphasis on service, with subsequent lack of time for research." Psychologists were "seen as the individuals most involved in mental health research in state programs." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The school as a psychological laboratory.

"Current training opportunities leading the graduate student of psychology to real understanding of children are… extremely limited… . Perhaps as good an explanation for the profession's neglect of such an important aspect of its field [child psychology] is to be found in the swings of academic fashion." To date, the public schools as settings for practicum experiences and internships have not been much exploited. Large city school systems present exciting possibilities. Courses of the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago have used the Chicago public schools since the 1930s. Typical research studies in which the Chicago schools have made facilities and subjects available are enumerated. "On the employment side, the positions for school psychologists in the Chicago schools jumped from 66 in 1957 to 90 in 1958." Psychological work in the schools requires thoughtful preparation. "Psychology must sell its wares to skeptical, if not openly hostile, teachers and administrators." Psychologists "must drop their supercilious attitude toward some of the basic tasks of school psychology… . The tremendous potential of the schools as a laboratory for research and training in almost all phases of psychological study must be more fully realized." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The impact of federal support on higher education.

A major university today, public or private, engaged in graduate teaching and research cannot maintain its stature without the present partnership with the Federal Government. The "problem between higher education and federal agencies is how to manage the future of a partnership that has been on balance eminently good over the past decade." Major sections are: The Educational Scene, Research Support (Alleged Evils of Federal Support, Benefits of Federal Support), A "Case History." Major "Institutions of higher education and those representing the scientific enterprise of the federal government are today completely dependent upon each other… . this relationship can be wisely managed, in such a way that both national and local interests can be met and strengthened." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Government support of psychological research: Fiscal year 1959.

"The report presents information on the amount and sources of funds for the support of psychological research and reflects the relative emphasis being placed on specific areas of psychology… . In the fiscal year 1959 (ending June 30, 1959) there was a substantial increase over the preceding year in federal support of psychological research. Approximately $31,300,000 was obligated by some 12 departments and subdivisions of the federal government for the conduct of research in psychology and closely related areas." 4 tables indicating annual rate of support of extramural research in psychology and related fields are provided; a 5th table indicates obligations by scientific fields for fiscal years 1958, 1959, and 1960. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The psychological marketplace.

At a meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association "there were 206 applicants for 125 academic positions, 157 applicants for 467 clinical and counseling positions, and 163 applicants for 198 industrial and research positions." There are "more jobs available than there are psychologists to fill them in the total employment picture." While "the degree requirements are the lowest for the Industrial and Research area, the median starting salary is the highest. The converse is true for the academic positions." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Privacy and behavioral research.

There is a "conflict of… scientific research with the right… of private personality." Traditional methods of behavioral research may, on occasion, involve a violation of the individual claim to private personality. 2 central ethical issues are the degree of individual consent that exists and the degree of confidentiality that is maintained. Whenever possible, "both consent and anonymity should be sought in behavioral research." 7 principles are suggested for inclusion in a general code of ethics for behavioral research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Survey of civilian psychologists in the Federal Government.

"In order to investigate the problem associated with the recruitment and retention of civilian psychologists by the United States Government, a questionnaire was sent in the Spring of 1962 to 49 ranking psychologist-administrators in 43 governmental organizations… . The overall response rate was 88%." 9 tables indicate types of psychologists employed, psychologist vacancies, and psychologist losses by federal departments and by type and grade as well as summarizing reasons for psychologist losses and problems in obtaining and maintaining psychologists. The "survey covered about 1500 or 90% of civilian psychologists employed by the federal government." Most reporting organizations were in 3 major departments: Defense, HEW, and the VA. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Internships vs. field training for industrial psychologists.

It "… is better to take advantage of opportunities for training that now exist in industry than to sell industry on the merits of internship programs." Practical difficulties of organizing, developing, and maintaining psychological internships in industry are indicated. The merits of a work-centered program are discussed. Twenty-five years of "experience… (with a great variety of college graduates including psychologists) indicates that internships for industrial psychologists are unnecessary." "An internship can be described as a weaning period… . Few industrial employers are interested in weanlings." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological research using television.

Psychologists "… along with other behavioral scientists, have both personal and professional responsibilities for research related to telecommunications." Three main barriers to research using television and related media are (1) the lack of adequate, continuing financial aid and of available facilities, (2) the lack of highly competent research men "… motivated to investigate the complex processes of communication… ", and (3) the lack of a sound research tradition for experimental psychologists in the field of the mass media and telecommunications. "Now is the time for research and development work before the flood of students reaches our colleges and universities." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research strategies toward a conception of positive mental health.

Problem areas in the field of science for a concept of mental health and the question of how research may be brought to advance our understanding of optimal human functioning are considered. Major sections are: Some Conceptual Difficulties with "Mental Health," The Frontal Assault, The Multiple Criterion Approach, Fundamental Research in Personality, and Systems Theory as a Frame of Reference. "The systems framework as a way of thinking ties mental health to our most general conceptions of personality in a schema that permits or, better, requires elaboration by research… . Mental health… is complex and not easily schematized." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The bio-sciences information exchange of the Smithsonian Institution: a clearinghouse for research in the bio-sciences.

The exchange serves as "… a clearinghouse for current research… work just beginning or not yet ready for publication." Its functions and operations are described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Originality.

Some ways of looking at scientific originality are presented. By far "the most usual way for an original concept to start is in exactly 1 brain. The individual inventor is often more important than any corporate research by a team of people." Distinctions between problem solvers and problem finders are presented in the text and summarized in a table; the major dimensions of distinction involve definition, objective, method, and outcome. Major sections are: Problem solver and problem finder. The individual and the institute. Conclusions. "Originality and individuality are badly needed in science… . Intellectual honesty is required in the sense of willingness to take a chance on the tougher problems as well as the easier ones." Make some mistakes and admit them; more promising problems may be found in the failures; naive productivity is more desirable than sophisticated sterility. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Counseling and public employment.

This is the statement of the author before a house Select Subcommittee on Labor. "With respect to counseling, the public employment service requires well-trained staff. This means, 1st that its salary scales for counselors must be competitive… . 2nd, the shortages of trained counselors are such that adequate training stipends must be made available to qualified individuals who will undertake full-time programs of professional preparation. 3rd, research grants should be made available to qualified investigators who will undertake the kinds of occupational research that will help to answer the many questions about vocational effectiveness and career development which are still unresolved. The wise use of its human resources is a basic test of the effective functioning of a democratic nation. Vocational counseling under the auspices of a public employment service can contribute materially to the achievement of this goal." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preparedness for progress.

The extensive problems of mental illness are reviewed. "Either we must develop new kinds of mental health personnel or we must develop new skills in the personnel we already have. This is no longer a pious statement; it is an absolute necessity in the imminence of approaching events." Problems involved in training specialists are considered. Efforts must be made "to identify those areas in which our skills… can be useful." Efforts should be made "to find answers to social needs where our contribution can be effective" and we must "accept responsibility for handling the wide range of truly psychiatric problems, whether or not they fit our individual preferences." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Test burning in Texas.

"By a 5-1 vote the governing board of the Houston Independent School District, one of the largest in the nation, in June 1959 ordered burned the answer sheets to six socio-psychometrics administered to some 5,000 ninth graders… . The action of the Houston trustees destroyed the labors of responsible school personnel and social scientists." It is suggested that: "In general, the public relations of psychometricians is in a sad state and in need of repairs… . It seems advisable that future large-scale testing programs be preceded by a public 'warm up' explaining to as broad a segment of the public as possible the purposes and methods of such research… . Psychologists are behaving 'ethnocentrically' in assuming that their ethic is shared by the people they study." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

New Jersey vignettes: Fifty years of state psychological services.

"New Jersey State Psychological Services began on October 1, 1910, when J. E. Wallace Wallin left… Vineland… to open a Psychological Laboratory at the New Jersey Village for Epileptics… near Princeton… . Edgar A. Doll became New Jersey's first State Chief Psychologist, 1919-23." Psychological services expanded greatly by the end of the postwar decade. Internships in clinical psychological services and research have been available since the early 20s. At present there are over 100 state psychology positions in correctional centers, mental hospitals, and training schools. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Professional education in industrial psychology: A statement of policy.

"The industrial psychologist should be a broadly trained psychologist… . Education in industrial psychology should provide grounding in psychological theory… . The curriculum should provide knowledge of the problem areas of industrial psychology… . Education in industrial psychology should include knowledge in other areas important in business and industry… . The student should become familiar with a very wide variety of research tools, methods, and procedures… . The education of an industrial psychologist should be realistic… . The education of industrial psychologists should include discussion of the ethical problems likely to arise in industry." The stated principles "should be interpreted in a flexible rather than a rigid fashion." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Explorations in ecological psychology.

The "great diversity of coupling between psychologists and psychological phenomena can be divided into 2 types which produce data of crucially different significance for the science of psychology." (1) Psychologists as Transducers—T Data: The psychologist transforms data and in effect is a translating machine. (2) Psychologists as Operators—O Data: The psychologist "achieves control which allows him to focus upon segments and processes of particular concern to him, via data that refer to events which he, in part, contrives." Psychologists "as operators and as transducers are not analogous, and… the data they produce have fundamentally different uses within science. A central problem of our science is the relation between ecological events (the distal stimuli) at the origin of E-O-E [environment-organism-environment] arcs and the succeeding events along these arcs." There "are a number of reasons for avoiding the role of transducer in psychological research… . The skills and personality attributes required of a successful transducer are different from those of a successful operator… . The techniques of the transducer are in many respects more difficult than those of the operator." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)