Lessons Learned from a Lifetime of Applied Social Psychology Research.

I started life as an experimental social psychologist but migrated to applied social psychology research. Each time I have been involved in a major applied project I have learned things that have helped in subsequent projects. Most of the time the lesson has been about research design (e.g., you must know how the study should be done before you deal with the reality of how it has to be done). Examples of other lessons include using appropriate research technology, and the importance of program planner awareness of psychological research. In this paper I describe some of the major studies in which I was the investigator and the lesson (s) I learned from each. I also touch on the relevance of the scientist/practitioner model for the applied researcher. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems.

Reviews the book, Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems edited by Frank W. Schneider, Jamie A. Gruman, and Larry M. Coutts (see record 2005-02098-000). Though I think the appeal of this text ought to extend well beyond the intended audience, Schneider et al. are marketing their book as an undergraduate level introductory text. It thus contains much of the pedagogy that instructors have come to expect in textbooks. Of course, the typical undergraduate text is written by a single author or group of authors. Schneider et al. opted for a different approach; Theirs is an edited volume, a collection of chapters written by specialists in a wide range of topic areas. Whereas it might have been natural in this case to expect problems with lack of consistency in style, organization, and content across the chapters, I was impressed by the effectiveness with which the editors maintained consistency throughout. One of the main strategies by which they achieved this level of success seems to have been by encouraging authors to use several classic theories and studies, where appropriate, in discussing the content relevant to their own areas of expertise. In total, there are 16 chapters. The first four chapters, which include an introductory chapter and chapters on theory, research methods, and intervention and evaluation, serve largely to set the context for the more focused, topic-driven material that comes later. Because this book is intended as a broad introduction to applied social psychology and because the chapters are rather short in length (20 to 25 pages on average), the coverage within any given chapter is selective rather than comprehensive in nature. I think Applied Social Psychology will make a substantial contribution as an undergraduate text--useful both as an introductory text in courses on applied social psychology and, where time will permit, as a secondary text to complement the main text in introductory or junior graduate-level survey courses on social psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology and Social Work.

The comments concerning social work and psychology which have appeared in the American Psychologist in recent years (Andriola, December 1951; Singer, December 1952; Joyce, January 1957; Andriola, January 1957) have been both heartening and disturbing: heartening in that they reflect an increasing awareness of the need for greater mutual understanding and disturbing in that the implication is conveyed that the other profession should assume primary responsibility for interpreting itself. The present concern with understanding the role of the other profession, and the desire to be understood ourselves, reflects in part, I think, the current struggle each profession is going through in defining its own role, responsibilities, and limitations. The goal, it would seem, is to develop an understanding and awareness of the related profession which enables one to work harmoniously and effectively with members of that profession and utilize their special services to the benefit of the client. How can this best be accomplished? I would suggest by each profession taking an increasing responsibility for providing adequate opportunities for their aspirants to come into interactive relationship with members of the related profession, and at a graduate training level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Giving Psychology Away Is Expensive.

Comment on "Does Psychology make a significant difference in our lives?" by P. Zimbardo (see record 2004-16479-003). We deeply appreciate the documentation and inspiration provided by Zimbardo on how psychology is reaching out to the public by "giving psychology away" (p. 340). We totally agree that psychology has much, much more to offer that could be used to improve human lives. We believe that in addition to a sincere desire to give psychology away, there needs to be a recognition of the realities of living in a capitalist society. In a market-driven economy, it is the value of intellectual property in the form of revenue generated that will determine whether psychological knowledge is widely disseminated and used. Zimbardo made a very good case for using the media to obtain free advertising; however, we believe a more radical approach is needed. The authors go on to discuss their views. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Toward a Psychology of the Scientist.

Reviews the book, Toward a Psychology of the Scientist by Sonja C. Graver (1981). The major themes of this highly condensed 92 page book are that all sciences are philosophic and that psychological research provides insight into how scientists formulate and revise theories. The author further contends that the development of science would be enhanced if all scientists (including psychologists) understood the primary importance of the role of theory, imagination and creativity in experimentation. The scientific model suggested is that progress in science occurs by way of reformulations of arbitrary world views, and that scientific activities would be enhanced if the subjective and psychological, particularly cognitive, aspects were stressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social psychology and desegregation research.

"The role of social science, particularly sociology and psychology, in the desegregation process has been much publicized and criticized by southern segregationists." Reasons are considered for the failure of foundations to support desegregation research. The concept of latent liberal is introduced. The "definitive inter-disciplinary case study of desegregation has yet to be started. Properly buttressed by the necessary foundation aid, such a study should involve comparisons before, during, and after desegregation of a wide variety of communities." From Psyc Abstracts 36:02:2GA05P. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology in the States.

Gustad reports on the establishment of a Department of Mental Health in Iowa, a program of voluntary certification in Massachusets, and the participation of the New Jersey Psychological Association in the 2nd Legistative Forum on health and welfare. Information on the New York State Psychological Association and the Oregon Psychological Association are also presented. The establishment of more mental hygiene clinics in Suffok County, NY, certification legislation in Pennsylvania, and action oriented programs in Texas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Creativity Through Applying Ideas From Fields Other Than One's Own: Transferring Knowledge From Social Psychology to Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Subfields of psychology can be arguably characterized as islands of unconnected knowledge. The underlying theme of this paper is that these subfields have much to gain by looking at and studying each other's respective literature. This paper explains how the field of industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology has benefited from theory and research in social psychology, and suggests ways it can benefit even more so. Specifically, moral development, the group-serving bias, as well as inducing feelings of hypocrisy so as to foster subsequent behaviour change are discussed. Their potential for leading to further insight into existing problems, refining existing theories, and for raising new questions in I/O psychology is described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Nature of Social and Personality Psychology as Reflected in JPSP, 1965-2000.

A bibliometric analysis of the first 36 years (1965-2000) of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (JPSP) is presented. The authors analyzed the structure of JPSP on the basis of contents and other aspects related to productivity, such as growth in the number of articles and authors, and "invisible colleges." In 2001, JPSP articles were cited over 23,000 times. An increasing number of older, classic articles are cited, suggesting that there are an accumulating number of citations whose influence endures over time. JPSP articles have grown in length, number of studies included, number of references, and number of authors and have become more international with an increasing proportion of authors from outside the United States. The pattern of findings suggests an increasingly complex and mature science. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social isolation: A case for interdisciplinary research.

Psychological research on the effects of social isolation on human beings has been relatively sparse, and has been hampered by artificiality, cultural one-sidedness, and some unstated and untested assumptions. Cross-cultural and biographical sources indicate that while isolation may be initially stressful, adaptation does occur; that cultural norms, roles and expectancies are important in determining individual responses to solitude; and that isolation may in fact have beneficial effects in some circumstances. Multidisciplinary efforts among psychologists, anthropologists, historians and biographers would help to shed light on these phenomena, which are important to a variety of theoretical as well as applied areas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does Psychology make a significant difference in our lives?

The intellectual tension between the virtues of basic versus applied research that characterized an earlier era of psychology is being replaced by an appreciation of creative applications of all research essential to improving the quality of human life. Psychologists are positioned to "give psychology away" to all those who can benefit from our wisdom. Psychologists were not there 35 years ago when American Psychological Association (APA) President George Miller first encouraged us to share our knowledge with the public. The author argues that psychology is indeed making a significant difference in people's lives; this article provides a sampling of evidence demonstrating how and why psychology matters, both in pervasive ways and specific applications. Readers are referred to a newly developed APA Web site that documents current operational uses of psychological research, theory, and methodology (its creation has been the author's primary presidential initiative): www.psychologymatters.org. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Amateur Psychology.

Comments on a recent article in The Reporter (Feb. 16, 1962), where Marya Mannes, a staff writer of this publication, praises Joyce Brothers for her ability to answer complex psychological problems in simple language "so simple in fact that she might be a new form of computer." In this computerization into simple language, however, not only the poetry of the problem, but its very individuality is lost. Somebody writes in, or talks to Dr. Brothers and gets the computer answer. The commentator states that such simplicity is easy to achieve because the dispenser of psychological and psychoanalytical generalities, of truisms and "untruisms," has only one theory into which, like into the legendary bed of Procrustes, the unfortunate party must fit. Lastly, according to the commentator, Miss Mannes has some misgivings lest the simplicity might simply be psychological quackery. She asks politely whether these shows are the soil in which wisdom may flower, and she calls this an open question. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Boundaryless Psychology: A Discussion.

Comments on the articles by G. P. Latham and P. A. Heslin (see record 2003-07215-006), G. H. Seijts and B. W. Latham (see record 2003-07215-007), and R. G. Lord et al (2003) which examined the concept of a boundaryless psychology, focusing on industrial/organizational psychology. This article is divided into three parts. In the introduction, I echo the case for breaking down boundaries. In the Article Critiques, I point out some of the good points and some concerns about each of the empirical articles in this section. In the General Comments, I design a two-dimensional matrix to help researchers decide how to best break down barriers in their research. This matrix has Order of Distance Between Fields on one axis and Theory Development on the other. In order of proximal to distal, the former axis is divided into target subdiscipline, other like-paradigm subdisciplines, other subdisciplines, other broad category sciences, and other sciences. In order of moving away from one's own discipline, the later axis is divided into statistical methodologies, philosophy of science, history of science, humanities, vicarious experience, and personal experience. Finally, I give a hypothetical example to illustrate how a researcher could use this matrix to break down barriers in psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward a Boundaryless Psychology.

This series of papers argue for the integrating of psychology as a core discipline. They show the benefit to the science and practice of psychology, of psychologists being aware of and building upon theory and research outside their subspecialty. Specifically, the three respective papers examine potential advances in industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology through knowledge of clinical, social, and neuroscience psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Division of Philosophical Psychology.

Comment regarding the necessity of establishing a Division of Philosophical Psychology in the APA. There are several clear indications that other disciplines and particular scholars in our own discipline are taking cognizance of this problem. Feigl's (see record 1960-03715-001) article "Philosophical Embarrassments of Psychology" is suggestive of the growing concern. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology in East Germany.

Discusses the nature of current psychology research in East Germany, including the work of Fischel (neurophysiology, animal behavior and genetics), W. Traxel ("An Empirical System of the Qualities of Feeling"), Vorweg and Vorweg (stereotyped attitudes), Zukowski ("Observations of Sea-Elephants in Captivity,"), Dathe (use of objects as tools by brown bears), and Grimm (bird population in Berlin). It is suggested that psychology in East Germany is a strange mixture of Gestalt principles and environmentalism, Marxist principles worked into the ontogenesis of behavior (as in a paper by G. Clauss), and is far removed from its innovator, Wilhelm Wundt. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Undergraduate Psychology: An Extreme View.

The author opines that Buxton's "Issues in Undergraduate Education in Psychology" (American Psychologist, 1956, 11, 84-95; see record 1957-02112-001) has very properly raised a number of provocative questions that need careful and considered attention. He feels compelled to offer some clarification on whether psychological teaching should be directed at "the whole man" or primarily at intellectual aspects of the student's development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Research in Clinical Psychology.

The author's impression of the factors giving rise to the isolation of research findings from clinical practice is that they do not stem so much from an absence of scientific attitudes or research interests, as they do from qualitative features inherent in much of the research of clinical psychology which do not allow for appropriate utilization of this research in actual practice. There does not appear to be sufficient attention to the peculiar qualitative requirements of clinical research necessary for it to be of optimal value, and the question may be raised as to whether research standards are too lax. We should bring to a close the epoch of clinical research effort aimed at relating few and isolated variables even though the context of such study makes obvious the necessity for comprehensive data collection and analysis. Understanding the "inefficacy" of clinical research appears to necessitate investigation going beyond socio-professional needs and influences into the function of the research activity within the framework of personality. In view of the value and society's investment in research, investigation into the relationship between personality and research activity promises benefits broadly applicable to other professions and situations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of psychology in ONR.

Outlines, with illustrative examples, the nature of psychological research supported by ONR. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)