APA and AIDS: The evolution of a scientific and professional initiative in the public interest.

Reports that the public was slow to recognize the relevance of psychology to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) related issues of coping, education, and behavior change, but such awareness came about, largely because of pressure from the American Psychological Association (APA) and its members. To make research information accessible as soon as possible, APA began "fast tracking" AIDS-related information into its print products and electronic database in 1986 and released a comprehensive bibliography on abstracts of AIDS-related psychological and behavioral literature in June of 1988 (A. Y. Dessaint et al [1988]). Other legislative and educational efforts are described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The APA professional liability insurance program.

Provides information about the professional liability program, available to american psychological association members, which was established in 1955 and administered by the hoggatt-dawson insurance agency of champaign, illinois. The number of enrollees has grown from 254 in 1955 to 4,978 in 1971. A table providing geographical distribution of enrollees by state is presented, and it is suggested that this provides a crude measure of the distribution of psychological practice in the various states. It is noted that the overall experience with the plan has been very favorable, with no malpractice suit of an insured apa member having yet gone to trial. Problems developing from some of the newer forms of therapy are reviewed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Growth and allocation of resources within the APA.

"As an organization of individual members, our first major source of income derives from membership dues." Major sections are: Growth in Income, Expense, and Membership; History of Dues Increases; The Journal Operations; Annual Allocation of Resources; External Grants and Contracts; Additional Operations; and Conclusion. "Just as 1962 represented our first budgeted years of over $1,000,000 in both income and expenses, 1963 will see a membership in excess of 20,000." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Growth and Allocation of Resources within the APA": Erratum.

Reports an error in the original article by John G. Darley and Meredith P. Crawford (Amer. Psychologist, 1962, 17[7], 465-474). Corrections are provided for the column headed "Members" in Table 3, on page 467. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1963-04067-001.) "As an organization of individual members, our first major source of income derives from membership dues." Major sections are: Growth in Income, Expense, and Membership; History of Dues Increases; The Journal Operations; Annual Allocation of Resources; External Grants and Contracts; Additional Operations; and Conclusion. "Just as 1962 represented our first budgeted years of over $1,000,000 in both income and expenses, 1963 will see a membership in excess of 20,000." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward scientific and professional responsibility.

The author examines 8 forms of irresponsibility in the social situation of psychology: fixation on means, absolutism of means, absolutism of ends, escape into relativism, isolation of conflicting values, token payments to conscience, parochialism, and professional vanity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research productivity of psychologists in VA medical centers based on APA journal publication.

Investigated the research productivity of psychologists in VA medical centers, using a method similar to the one used by W. M. Cox and V. Catt (see record 1978-21651-001) to assess the productivity of university psychology departments. The 10 VA medical centers from which psychologists published most frequently in journals of the American Psychological Association during 1975–1984 are listed, and the journals in which these articles were published are outlined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA/APAGS award for distinguished graduate student in professional psychology.

The American Psychological Association 2010 APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology is awarded on an annual basis by the APA Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) and the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) to a graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding practice and application of psychology. A qualified candidate must demonstrate exemplary performance in working with an underserved population in an applied setting or have developed an innovative method for delivering health services to an underserved population. The 2010 recipient is William Q. Hua. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Distinguished professional contributions to knowledge: Herman Feifel.

Presents the citation, biography, and selected bibliography for Herman Feifel, one of the 1988 recipients of the American Psychological Association's Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Knowledge. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA/APAGS award for distinguished graduate student in professional psychology.

The APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology is awarded on an annual basis by the APA Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) and the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) to graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding practice and application of psychology. A qualified candidate must demonstrate exemplary performance in working with an underserved population in an applied setting or have developed an innovative method for delivering health services to an underserved population. The 2008 recipient for this award is Maryam M. Jernigan. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reaction: A broader scientific base for professional psychology.

Much of the opposition in qualitative research is predicated on the belief that psychology is a science and should proceed in obtaining knowledge using the methods of the "hard" sciences. There is, however, a growing awareness of the subjectivity of traditional empirical methods. Attention to qualitative research designs, including journal space, could broaden the scientific base and encourage new professionals to use different methodologies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA/APAGS award for distinguished graduate student in professional psychology: Maryam M. Jernigan.

Presents the citation, biography, and selected bibliography for Maryam M. Jernigan, the 2008 recipient of the APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

William Q. Hua: APA/APAGS award for distinguished graduate student in professional psychology.

The American Psychological Association 2010 APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology was awarded to William Q. Hua, for his outstanding work to reduce stigma and improve wellness in marginalized communities living with HIV/ AIDS. As a concerned mental health care provider, he has modeled the commitment necessary to bring about change in health disparities experienced by minority populations and communities of color. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Strengthening the scientific foundations of professional psychology: Time for the next steps.

The field of professional psychology has been tremendously successful, although it has also been characterized by many competing preparadigmatic theoretical orientations, which have led to a great deal of contention as well as conflicting views regarding psychological development, functioning, and behavior change. There is now widespread agreement regarding scientific explanations of many psychological processes, however, and, consequently, it is time to update the basic conceptual frameworks used for professional psychology education and practice. Replacing the traditional reliance on an array of theoretical orientations with a science-based biopsychosocial framework would resolve many of the contradictions and conflicts that characterized the preparadigmatic era and would also provide a common perspective for unifying psychologists around a shared approach to practice, research, and training. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA presidential addresses: The relation of integrative complexity to historical, professional, and personal factors.

Obtained all extant presidential addresses of the American Psychological Association (APA) as they appeared in Psychological Review from 1894–1938, Psychological Bulletin until 1946, and American Psychologist from 1946–1981. Five paragraphs from the beginning and the end of each of the 85 addresses were scored for integrative complexity, a factor defined by the degree of differentiation and integration of dimensions along which information is processed. Data indicate that, as in previous studies, complexity was lower when the US was engaged in a war. This predicted effect of societal stress was not found in times of economic difficulty nor during US presidential election years. APA presidents who were judged as particularly eminent by senior colleagues gave addresses higher in complexity; there was no difference as a function of other types of eminence ratings nor objective measures (publication and citation counts). No sex or age differences were found, but there was a positive correlation between complexity and the number of years of life remaining to the individual. An examination of professional orientation indicated that a tendency away from conventional scientific rigor was associated with higher complexity. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA finances: Introduction.

Discusses the profits and investments of the American Psychological Association (APA). Other topics include the financial control system, which provides for 5-yr advance planning, annual budgeting, and current reporting built around programs. These programs are divided into such categories as publications and services and activities. APA revenues, expenses, and net earnings for 1951–70 are listed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Commentaries, opinions, and the growth of scientific knowledge.

Comments on J. J. Christensen-Szalanski and L. R. Beach's (see record 1984-21471-001) conclusion that the attention given to commentaries and replies to articles did not justify the extra space and indicates that less than 1% of all the articles that appeared in psychology journals had commentaries. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA insurance trust: Announcing new developments in the APA income protection plan.

Major sections are: Rates for Higher Benefits; Eligibility for Increased Benefits; Members under 40 May Increase Benefits Annually; Premium Credits Announced. "Members in Plan A, which has a 7-day waiting period, are currently limited to a $100 weekly maximum. The new maximum will be $200 a week." Members in Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D, all with longer waiting periods, will presently be eligible for a maximum of $250 weekly. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)