Scientific study of witness memory: Implications for public and legal policy.

The legal system relies heavily on human memory. Crime investigations, criminal trials, and many civil trials depend on memory to reconstruct critical events from the past. Over the last 20 years or so, psychologists have developed a specific research literature on witness testimony. This research has been directed primarily at eyewitnesses, such as victims or bystanders to a criminal event. This issue of Psychology, Public Policy, and Law is devoted to the potential contributions of the scientific study of witness testimony to public policy and legal issues. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contributions of Canadian community psychology.

The contributions of Canadian community psychologists to ethics, theory, methodology, research, and practise are highlighted in this article. Important debates about ethical issues in psychological research and practise have been advanced by Canadian community psychologists. Canadian community psychologists have also introduced theoretical perspectives (e.g., cognitive community psychology) that have provided an impetus for research and practise, and they have broadened the focus of research in community settings with contributions to participatory action research, program evaluation, and qualitative methods. A variety of substantive contributions have been made to the research literature, especially in the areas of community mental health, prevention, and social inclusion. Finally, Canadian community psychologists have contributed to practise in terms of policy, programs, and social interventions. The article concludes with a discussion of future potential areas of contribution for Canadian community psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sexual abuse victimization and the child witness in Canada: Legal, ethical, and professional issues for psychologists.

The Canadian legal system has made a number of significant reforms in the last few decades regarding the rights of child witnesses and, in particular, the rights of those who have disclosed sexual abuse. This paper provides an overview of the law in Canada as it pertains to child sexual abuse victims and witnesses, and reflects on the role and responsibilities of psychologists who work with child witnesses. It reviews the effects of protection reforms and preparation programs on children who must testify, examines some of the current major issues in the research literature in the area of interviewing and assessing sexually abused children, and considers the role of the psychologists as expert witness in court. In addition, it discusses potential ethical dilemmas for psychologists who work with child witnesses, and proposes recommendations for research and clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Counseling psychology research on sexual (orientation) minority issues: Conceptual and methodological challenges and opportunities.

This lead article of the special issue discusses conceptual and methodological considerations in studying sexual minority issues, particularly in research conducted by counseling psychologists (including the work represented in this special issue). First, the overarching challenge of conceptualizing and defining sexual minority populations is described. Second, the importance and value of scholarship about sexual minority issues are highlighted. Third, challenges in sexual minority research are outlined, using the articles in this special issue for illustrative purposes, and suggestions are offered for consideration in future research. Finally, the article concludes with a discussion of the ways in which counseling psychologists are uniquely positioned to advance knowledge, practice, and social justice through research on sexual minority issues. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Observations on the Politics of Multidisciplinary Health Research.

In multidisciplinary health research, psychologists work as equals with other professionals to investigate health issues from a broad perspective. However, the domain of such research--the health care system--is frequently outside the psychologist's habitual territory. This article examines the role of psychologists in this line of work and the politics relating to their success. Discussion focuses on how the psychologist presents him/herself as being able to improve and add to the research, the importance of personal and professional credibility, professional language, and other practical concerns. Although multidisciplinary health research is becoming a more established activity for psychologists, few precedents currently exist for defining the psychologist's position. So every study adds not only to the body of knowledge of health but also to the character and identity of psychology as a discipline. Attention to the interpersonal and political aspects of health research is critical to the development of the field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comment on Gilbert.

Comments on the article by S. J. Gilbert (January, 1983) regarding the work of institutional review boards and the ethics of research with human subjects. Gilbert argues that until researchers can learn to take ethical issues in research seriously as ethical and not merely political problems, those same researchers are likely to be mystified by objections to their protocols. The solution is not to psychologize the committees, but for psychologists to do some honest reflection on the ethics of their own research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Design for a hopeful psychology.

Discusses major changes which have recently occurred in 3 areas of psychology and their implications for psychologists. In research psychology a far-reaching new ethical code has been adopted; in clinical-professional psychology the community specialty has arisen; and in measurement there has been a shift away from selection as an objective and toward classification and self-knowledge. The effect of these changes is to make psychologists less of an elite group set apart by special knowledge. Instead they are expected to work with nonpsychologists toward common objectives. The shift makes it advisable for psychologists to rethink some of their practices and attitudes. Researchers should devote more thought and attention to the initial choice of research problems and to plans for communication of findings to nonpsychologists. A similarly increased emphasis on choosing and planning is called for in professional service and teaching. It is suggested that it is time for psychologists to reexamine their assumptions and beliefs about determinism in light of current philosophical analyses and scientific developments. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Children As Subjects in Psychological Research.

Comment on children as subjects in psychological research. I should merely like to point out that psychologists must regularly concern themselves with the possible implications of many of our common experimental procedures. We must be aware not only of the obvious effects of frustration, of our responsibility for "picking up the pieces"--even for searching for the pieces--but we must try to envisage what it does to a child's view of adults, his attitudes toward teachers, etc. to be subjected to some of the rewards or some of the "praise and reproof" of our learning experiments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Article-reading behavior of psychologists: A reply to Cohen.

Comments on the original article by L. H. Cohen (see record 1981-03972-001), in which Cohen compares his data to that of the current authors' earlier data on the extent to which clinical psychologists read research materials for their work. The current authors offer possible explanations for the discrepancies between the two articles' data. Additionally, they suggest that the possibility that clinical psychologists expose themselves less frequently to the research literature than do psychologists in general could have disturbing implications for the field of clinical psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Public sector psychology in the wake of the 2005 White House Conference on Aging.

The 2005 White House Conference on Aging provides a vantage point for discussion of important public sector topics related to aging. The article points out important implications for psychologists and other health care professionals in the area of aging. After reviewing the resolutions passed by the White House Conference, there is a focus on the geriatric workforce which notes the under supply of psychologists who provide services to older adults. The efforts of professional associations are detailed with emphasis on the American Psychological Association and its collaborative efforts with the American Bar Association. These efforts deal with providing more information for lawyers and judges who deal with the topic of diminished capacity. A case example is provided to elucidate some of the important issues. The article continues with a discussion of the needs of older Veterans, the work of the Veteran's Health Administration and the recommendations by the Geriatric and Gerontology Advisory Committee. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Scientific issues: Section introduction.

One of the major roles that psychologists play in addressing the AIDS epidemic is maintaining vigorous research programs that focus on attitudinal and behavioral factors in the transmission of the virus and on individual, community, and national responses to persons who are infected with the virus or who have symptoms of the disease. This section addresses selected aspects of the research agenda for psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Informed consent: Legal issues and applications to clinical practice.

Reviews the literature on informed consent and discusses its implications for clinical psychology practice. The legal and ethical rights of patients and obligations of psychologists are detailed. Specific examples of problem areas in professional practice are highlighted. Recommendations are suggested for guiding the practitioner through issues on which legal doctrine is sometimes vague, ambiguous, or yet to be established. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Genes, Race, and Psychology in the Genome Era: An Introduction.

The mapping of the human genome has reawakened interest in the topic of race and genetics, especially the use of genetic technology to examine racial differences in complex outcomes such as health and intelligence. Advances in genomic research challenge psychology to address the myriad conceptual, methodological, and analytical issues associated with research on genetics and race. In addition, the field needs to understand the numerous social, ethical, legal, clinical, and policy implications of research in this arena. Addressing these issues should not only benefit psychology but could also serve to guide such thought in other fields, including molecular biology. The purpose of this special issue is to begin a discussion of this issue of race and genetics within the field of psychology. Several scholars who work in the fields of genetics, race, or related areas were invited to write (or had previously submitted) articles sharing their perspectives. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Canadian Children's Law: Cases, Notes and Materials.

Reviews the book, Canadian Children's Law: Cases, Notes and Materials by Nicholas Bala, Heino Lilies, and George Thomson (1982). This book contains a collection of articles, legal decisions, and comments on significant issues in relation to children. The authors divide the table of contents into two major groupings: Part I deals with child welfare and Part II deals with juvenile offenders. This book does not attempt to be exhaustive. For example, it does not cover legislation in other provinces, and the excerpts of articles are often too short to give an in-depth discussion of the issues. However, its greatest value is in raising questions that all mental health professionals should discuss within their own profession and with the legal profession and the judiciary so that a better working relationship can be achieved. I would recommend this book to all psychologists who arc involved in child welfare or delinquency matters. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing...Emerging Miranda research and professional roles for psychologists.

In Miranda v. Arizona (1966), the 20th century's most prominent and consequential legal decision on constitutionally guaranteed rights against compelled self-incrimination, the Supreme Court of the United States mandated the delivery of specific warnings to persons facing custodial interrogation. Owing in large part to popularization of these warnings by the entertainment media, many citizens can recite at least some of their Miranda rights in rote fashion; however, recent and emerging research provides compelling evidence of persistent Miranda misconceptions and fallacies among criminal suspects and the lay public. The effects of these misunderstandings are profound. Conservatively, an estimated 318,000 suspects waive their rights annually while failing to comprehend even 50% of representative Miranda warnings. Two major issues, oral advisements and juvenile warnings, are examined in relationship to Miranda comprehension. Professional roles for psychologists are explored for Miranda issues that incorporate education, community consultation, forensic practice, and applied research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Practicing safer listserv use: Ethical use of an invaluable resource.

Listservs are often used by professional psychologists to share resources and references, seek consultation or support, find referrals, discuss important issues, keep informed about upcoming events, and access other useful information. Topics of discussion include clients, students, research, insurance companies, and even other professionals. Listservs can help keep otherwise isolated professional psychologists connected with the psychological community. Listservs make such discussions and information more accessible to psychologists who are geographically isolated or cannot easily attend meetings and other events because of other demands on their time. There are risks involved in listserv use, however. Nothing shared over the Internet is ever completely secure. Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Listservs potentially distribute messages about clients and other topics far more widely than a single e-mail communication does, thereby multiplying the risks involved. In this article, the author explains how listservs work, addresses the potential ethical problems connected with their use, and suggests some more secure methods for sensitive professional Internet exchanges. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Handbook of bereavement research and practice: Advances in theory and intervention.

Reviews the book, Handbook of bereavement research and practice: Advances in theory and intervention, edited by Margaret S. Stroebe, Robert O. Hansson, Henk Schut, and Wolfgang Stroebe (see record 2008-09330-000). The goal of this book is to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the field of bereavement research and practise. To achieve this goal, the editors have enlisted the collaboration of several well-known grief and bereavement researchers. This latest effort tries to relate bereavement research more explicitly to contemporary society and practise issues than was done in the two earlier volumes. The handbook is to be commended for fairly presenting multiple, and at times contradictory, points of view on some of the more controversial issues in the field. This results in a fascinating, well-written book, with many thought-provoking chapters that will challenge some of the persistent misconceptions that psychologists may have about bereavement and the nature of grief work. This book will help guide students who want to pursue clinical work or research in this field. Seasoned researchers will likely also find this book very helpful in terms of its conceptual clarification of terms that are often poorly defined. Readers who are looking for practical advice on how best to help their clients grieve may, however, be disappointed. As the editors indicate, this is not a sourcebook for clinicians looking for practical tips. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What all applied psychologists should know about work.

Because of the increasing complexity of work in people's lives and the rapid ways in which work is changing, it is likely that all applied psychologists will need greater content knowledge about work to assist clients with issues related to work choice, entry, and adjustment. This article identifies 5 knowledge domains about work that include important information for applied psychologists. These domains are as follows: (a) economics and politics, (b) work structures, (c) globalization, (d) social factors, and (e) technology. These 5 domains are outlined, as are anticipated future trends in work. The implications of these issues for applied psychologists are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology and nuclear war: A chapter in our legacy of social responsibility.

Notes that psychologists' participation in work on nuclear-war-related problems since 1945 has been sporadic and suggests that this sporadic research is related to fluctuating modulations in government policy. The history of these activities is viewed as a case that can be used to evaluate both the underlying forces of psychological research and the feasibility of a professional model of psychologists' social responsibility. The recent activities of psychologists suggest some alternatives for their involvement in global issues, specifically for rethinking what is psychological about such issues and for determining what problems might or should concern psychologists. It is suggested that psychologists must go beyond simply evaluating their science as a corpus of either intellectual innovations or ideologies. (88 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)