Productivity among American psychologists.

An attempt to answer the question of "whether the aggregate publications of any generation of scientists are made up primarily of the work of the highly productive minority or are composed chiefly of the contributions of the less productive majority." Using data from four groups (different time periods) of American psychologists found that the total output of each of the groups is made up to a large extent of the publications of a relatively small number of productive individuals. Further analysis revealed that the more productive persons had their work cited most often in scholarly works in psychology and are more likely to receive professional recognition and honors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Productivity among American psychologists: an explanation.

Discusses a probability model as a plausible explanation of the data on publication published by Dennis (see 29: 1865). Distributions of publication frequency closely follow an inverse relation between number of publications and an individual's rank in a list ordered by number of publications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Productivity of American Psychologists Born Prior to 1879.

Author comments on the article by Wayne Dennis on the Productivity of American Psychologists in the American Psychologist (May, 1954), reveals the names of the 16 psychologists, born prior to 1879, who occupy the top decile of productivity based on the biblographies contained in Carl Murchison's Psychological Register, III, 1932, and who contributed 47 per cent of the total output. He lists the psychologists and tabulates the total number of publications for each. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comment on Dennis' "Productivity among American psychologists".

Doubtlessly, as W. Dennis states (American Psychologist, 1954, 9, pp. 191-194), '...scientists differ greatly in regard to the number of their publications...." Thus psychologists are no different in this respect than chemists, biologists, or other groups in the scientific fraternity. In studying the publications data of four different groups of American psychologists, Dennis found "the total output of each of the groups is made up to a large extent of the publications of a relatively small number of productive individuals." This disparity could be (and probably would be) accentuated even more if additional sources of publications data were consulted other than those specifically relating to psychological publications only, as was the case in the studies cited by Dennis. Particularly within the past quarter century, and more especially since World War II, an increasing number of psychologists have been writing for and have published articles of a psychological nature which have appeared in nonpsychological and nonscientific journals, e.g., trade journals and popular magazines. The point is: if more rigorous and exhaustive publication-searching evidence is and can be employed in comparing the productivity of scientists, including psychologists, we may find that this disparity may be more pronounced than we had been led to think from the studies made to date. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Searching for the second generation of American women psychologists.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 11(3) of History of Psychology (see record 2008-10736-005). The authors would like to indicate that Inez Beverly Prosser's academic degree was incorrectly listed as EdD in the Appendix. Prosser's correct degree is PhD.] As a consequence of the groundbreaking work of E. Scarborough and L. Furumoto (1987), the contributions of the pioneering first generation of American women psychologists are now well recognized within the history of psychology; however, the generation that followed the pioneers is less well known. The lack of recognition that most women psychologists of the interwar era experienced during the majority of their working lives resulted from sexism institutionalized through practices such as anti-nepotism rules that effectively excluded many married women from the academy, informal hiring practices operating in "old-boy network" fashion, and exclusion from certain key graduate training centers. Yet, many women were productive psychologists during this era and contributed to the growth and expansion of the discipline. Examination of published literature generated biographical information for 107 eminent women; C. A. Murchison's (1932b) Psychological Register provided a less detailed but more inclusive inventory to yield data on a total of 320 women. This article recounts our systematic search for this "lost generation" and emphasizes the extent and diversity of their contributions to psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

American psychologists in Moscow.

I would like to comment on two aspects of the behavior of the large majority of American psychologists who visited Moscow in August to attend the XVIIIth International Congress of Psychology. I found both of these behaviors highly disturbing. Neither does us much credit as professionals nor as Americans. The first form of behavior engaged in by far too many American psychologists was an unending tirade of criticism and complaints about Moscow, about Intourist, about hotel accommodations, about bad food, about virtually everything that could be selected out as a target. Putting it candidly, I have heard complaining tourists throughout Europe before, but never in my life have I heard so many howl so loudly and lengthily about so many things. What is most disturbing is that, of all people, a group of professional behavioral scientists ought to be the most capable of shifting gears, adjusting to a situation, and observing and accepting the reality of the situation for what it is. Such behavior is to be expected from the naive and unsophisticated. Coming from my professional colleagues, I can only say that I am stunned. The second behavior of many psychologists which I found disturbing is more on the professional, and less on the tourist, side. Many of the questions asked of the Soviet psychologists were so hostile in nature that they revealed more about the questioner and his anxieties than did the answer reveal something of tangible value about Soviet psychology. I take great pride in my professional status as a psychologist and as an American citizen. The feeling of need to apologize for so many of my professional colleagues and fellow citizens is an uncomfortable one indeed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Configurations of contributing psychologists.

"The purpose of this paper is to present a method for identifying those members of the American Psychological Association having a doctor's degree who are likely to make important contributions to psychology. The approach is essentially that of considering at one time two bits of information about a person." "The sample… consists of 1,974 persons who became Associates of APA and received the doctor's degree during the period 1941 to 1951… ." Three configurations are discussed: (1) those who became APA Associates before they received the doctor's degree; (2) those who became Associates after they received the degree; (3) those who became Associates the same year they received the degree. Criteria of contributions to psychology are publication in the 1954 APA journals and donation of money to APA Building Fund in 1954 and 1955. Three tables of results are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The APA study of psychologists.

A preliminary report of the research procedures, findings, and additional questions to be investigated in a study whose major purpose is "the collection of data which may lead to (a) the better understanding of personal and environmental factors that influence the research productivity or the professional contribution of the individual psychologists, (b) increased appreciation of society's demands for and use of psychological services, and (c) an understanding of the influence of various programs of education and training in psychology." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Impact of psychotherapy on the productivity of psychologists.

To investigate (a) the effects of psychotherapy on the scientific publications of American psychologists and (b) the extent to which this group had received psychotherapy, questionnaires were sent to all APA members receiving PhDs 1945-1951 to obtain information about their therapy. A number of publications was obtained from the Psychological Abstracts. There were no significant differences in number of publications between therapy and matched nontherapy control samples. Of 966 male psychologists responding, ? had received psychotherapy, with clinicians disproportionately represented. Of this ?, 13% had 3 or more therapeutic experiences. There was a high positive correlation between duration of therapy and therapy satisfaction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A personal view of some issues facing psychologists.

"First of all, I am concerned that the general climate of American psychology today does a great deal to discourage original and creative thinking, and little to foster it." "A second concern which I feel is in regard to the risk of becoming parochial. There appear to be strong forces at work in our field to narrow psychology." A third area "… which I feel troubled about is the trend in psychology. It seems to me that there is, in our profession, a real fear of thinking about the meaning of what we are doing." These issues are briefly discussed, questions are raised regarding the issues, and some suggestions are made for resolution of the problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Searching for the second generation of American women psychologists": Correction to Johnston and Johnson (2008).

Reports an error in "Searching for the second generation of American women psychologists" by Elizabeth Johnston and Ann Johnson (History of Psychology, 2008[Feb], Vol 11[1], 40-72). The authors would like to indicate that Inez Beverly Prosser's academic degree was incorrectly listed as EdD in the Appendix. Prosser's correct degree is PhD. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2008-04777-003.) As a consequence of the groundbreaking work of E. Scarborough and L. Furumoto (1987), the contributions of the pioneering first generation of American women psychologists are now well recognized within the history of psychology; however, the generation that followed the pioneers is less well known. The lack of recognition that most women psychologists of the interwar era experienced during the majority of their working lives resulted from sexism institutionalized through practices such as anti-nepotism rules that effectively excluded many married women from the academy, informal hiring practices operating in "old-boy network" fashion, and exclusion from certain key graduate training centers. Yet, many women were productive psychologists during this era and contributed to the growth and expansion of the discipline. Examination of published literature generated biographical information for 107 eminent women; C. A. Murchison's (1932b) Psychological Register provided a less detailed but more inclusive inventory to yield data on a total of 320 women. This article recounts our systematic search for this "lost generation" and emphasizes the extent and diversity of their contributions to psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

American Psychological Foundation Contributors: 1980.

Lists the names of all whose contributions to the American Psychological Foundation (APF) were received in 1980. The APF was established in 1953 to receive gifts from psychologists who wish to contribute to the advancement of psychology as a science and a profession in the service of knowledge and the welfare of the people. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Length of graduate training for experimental and clinical psychologists.

Tabulations of data on Division 3 (experimental) and Division 12 (clinical) members listed in the 1959 "American Psychological Association Directory" are reported. It "takes the average experimental psychologist slightly over 2 years to receive the MA after he receives the BA, but over 3.25 years are spent by the average clinical psychologist… . It also takes the average clinical psychologist much longer to progress from the MA to the PhD degree"—about 3.5 years for the experimental psychologist and over 6 years for the clinical psychologist. From Psyc Abstracts 36:02:2AM78V. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Phones, phonies, and psychologists: III. Professional problems and progress.

A table indicates the percentage of American Psychological Association (APA) members among individual listings in the classified telephone directories for 20 major cities from 1947 to 1962 as follows: 1947, 18.5%; 1949, 35.5%; 1953, 46.7%; 1957, 55.8%; and 1962, 76.9%. Problems considered involve listings by persons identifying themselves as hypnotists; dianetic auditors; those who promise memory power, marriage and tranquility development, relief from sexual problems, etc.; and organizations using display advertisements despite the APA Code statement that "Display advertising is not acceptable practice." The effects of certification are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The American Psychological Foundation: A ten-year report.

"In 1953, the American Psychological Foundation was launched by the APA as an instrument whereby psychologists could contribute financially to the continued development of psychology… . The most significant of the Foundation's early projects was the establishment of the Gold Medal Award, given to senior psychologists in recognition of a distinguished and long-continued record of scientific and scholarly accomplishment… . A 2nd award, instituted in 1956, goes to professional writers who have made outstanding presentations of psychological information in mass media." 2 tables indicate the financial history of APF and the distribution of contributions from individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

New Members and Associates of the American Psychological Association.

1543 persons were elected to membership in APA as of January 1, 1964; 703 were elected Members and 840 were elected Associates. 210 Associate members were transferred to Member status. The persons involved are listed by name. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

American Psychological Foundation 1972 Contributors.

The American Psychological Foundation was established in 1953. Through its awards program, the Foundation honors annually a senior psychologist who in his whole career has made distinguished contributions to research and scholarship (the Gold Medal Award), and it also recognizes outstanding achievements in teaching and in interpreting psychology in public media (books, newspapers, television). Through its small grants program, it supports activities of importance to psychology that would otherwise go unfunded. For example, it provides APA journals to libraries in developing nations. In addition, in appropriate cases the Foundation contributes funds to support programs of other organizations which are consistent with the purposes of the Foundation. In accordance with the Bylaws, the Foundation is placed in the hands of a Board of Trustees, consisting of the seven most recent past presidents of the APA and other members of the Association elected by the Trustees then in office. The Foundation's program depends on the concern and generosity of psychologists. Some contribute in the form of specific cash contributions. Others assign all or part of their royalties from books, particularly books that draw heavily on the work of other psychologists. Others routinely assign income from reprinting of their papers in books of readings or other collections. Some have designated the Foundation a beneficiary in their wills. Contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible. A list of the names of all whose contributions to the APF received in 1972 is provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

New associates of the American Psychological Association.

Lists the 1,269 persons elected Associates of the APA as of 1 January 1956. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Standards of ethical behavior for psychologists: Report of the committee on ethical standards of psychologists.

Most dissatisfaction with the present code involves its "cumbersome length" and the codifying of professional courtesies rather than the "hard core of ethical issues." 7 criteria adopted by the committee in its efforts at revision of the code are specified. "Containing only 18 major principles, the proposed revision retains the essence of the original code tentatively adopted in 1953." The proposed revision is presented with a preamble. Principles are titled as follows: General, Competence, Moral and Legal Standards, Misrepresentation, Public Statements, Confidentiality, Client Welfare, Client Relationship, Impersonal Services, Advertising, Interprofessional Relationship, Remuneration, Technique Security, Test Interpretation, Test Publication, Harmful After-effects, Publication Credit, Organizational Material. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Productive psychologists.

Frequency of citation is suggested "… as an instrument for facilitating the assessment of the influence of a psychologist and of identifying his most influential work." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)