Supports crisis phone services: Lester replies.

Replies to comments by Paul Schoenfeld (see record 2005-09886-003) on Lester's "Role of psychologists in crisis telephone services" (see record 1990-57067-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Beyond individualism and centralization.

Replies to the comments of C. D. Samuelson et al (see record 1986-17036-001) and P. C. Stern (see record 1986-17038-001) on the author's (see record 1985-30567-001) work on global ecology and individual psychological problems. It is suggested that the most crucial point is that psychological debate cannot be divorced from political ideology. It is important to make explicit individual political perspectives and value priorities and to take clear stands on the range of controversial issues that affect work by psychologists. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Addressing classism, extending multicultural competence, and serving the poor: Reply.

Replies to comments on "Psychotherapy, classism, and the poor: Conspicuous by their absence" (see record 2005-11834-002). In this article, the current author outlined what psychologists over the past four decades have had to say about the field's neglect of the poor in its research, practice, and theory. Characterizing this exclusion of the poor as a form of classist bias, she shared her experiences of confronting the results of this bias within her own work. In her commentary, Aronson (see record 2006-05893-011) offered some of her own experiences in working with poor clients. As Moyer (see record 2006-05893-012) asserted, nonprofit organizations that make mental health services available to the poor do indeed constitute welcome exceptions to the current author's statements regarding the mostly middle-class purview of psychological practice. Liu's (see record 2006-05893-013) comment illustrated the different and often complementary perspectives that emerge when one considers the same topic from different paradigmatic stances. Although much of the divergence between Liu's views and the current author's seems to be a manifestation of our differing emphases, the current author addresses a few points of frank disagreement, including the use of the word "classism." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Treating "the Poor"--Classism or a Rigid Loyalty to Theory?: Comment.

Comments on "Psychotherapy, classism, and the poor: Conspicuous by their absence" by Laura Smith (see record 2005-11834-002). Smith suggested that social psychology theories might explain how a negative attitude toward the poor has reduced the interest of practitioners in poor patients. The current author was impressed by Smith's comments when she left the literature and began to describe her own experiences. However, the current author was not convinced that social psychology and the varieties of classism explain the phenomenon described. The current author believes that many practitioners avoid the poor because they do not enjoy failure. In this comment, the author discusses personal experiences that support this position. It does not elaborate a history of either a dislike of or class avoidance of the poor. Instead, it suggests that psychologists are trained to overgeneralize findings and to look down on less rigorously collected findings and observations. Thus, psychologists overlook information that might allow theories to be further formulated in more accurate and generalizable forms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dunnette's games.

Comments on M. D. Dunnette's (see record 1966-10566-001) article on some unspoken but common attitudes among psychologists and suggests 3 categories of "games" or procedures to which many psychologists subscribe. These are (1) "How to Get into Journals" (i.e., how to get one's article published); (2) "No Controls," in which a psychologist conducts a disastrous research project; and (3) "Dear God," which involves falsification of research data. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interspecies versus Species-Specific.

Comments on "Experimental investigations of species-specific behavior" by Beach (see record 1961-01865-001). With respect to Beach's plea for the investigation of species-specific behavior, perhaps the assumption should be made by all comparative psychologists that "Any behavior is presumed interspecies until proven species-specific." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

To medicate or not to medicate: Let us be honest about why we should.

Responds to the articles of P. H. DeLeon et al (see record 1991-25292-001) and S. J. Kingsbury (see record 1992-25066-001) on prescribing privileges for psychologists. It is argued that such privileges would help psychologists provide the best, most efficient, and least complicated care for the patients, unencumbered by a 3rd party. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Science Fairs.

Comments on the original article by R. Perloff and L. S. Perloff (see record 1977-28555-001), which suggests that to broaden traditional procedures for educating the public, psychologists should display behavioral phenomena at fairs of all sizes-- rural, local, regional, national, and international. The present author notes that there are other "fairs" that should be added to the list: the science fairs of elementary and secondary schools. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Population and health psychology": A response.

Responds to a critique by D. C. O'Connell (see record 1987-21818-001) concerning the present author's (see record 1986-19757-001) article on population, development, and reproductive behavior. The author reiterates that individual, family, and community well-being, an improved quality of life, and freedom of choice in reproductive behavior are becoming areas of priority interest for health psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Clinical versus statistical prediction: A theoretical analysis and review of the evidence.

Reviews the book "Clinical versus statistical prediction: A theoretical analysis and review of the evidence" by Paul E. Meehl (see record 1996-97896-000). This book talks about a continuing debate among psychologists regarding the relative accuracy and efficiency of statistical (actuarial) predictions and those made by clinicians on the basis of subjective "understanding" of individual cases. This book represents the author's first published statement of his position. In the reviewers opinion, the author has succeeded admirably. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clarification and elaboration on evidence-based practice in psychology.

Responds to comments by D. C. Wendt and B. D. Slife (see record 2007-13085-019), P. H. Hunsberger (see record 2007-13085-020), and R. B. Stuart and S. O. Lilienfeld (see record 2007-13085-021) regarding the report by the APA Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice (see record 2006-05893-001) entitled Evidence-based practice in psychology. The goal of the task force was to create a scheme that would suggest how evidence should be used to design and offer services that will benefit patients and to assure the public and the health care system that psychologists are providing evidence-based services. There were and will continue to be many scientific and philosophical issues inherent in any such enterprise, and agreement by all psychologists with every aspect of EBPP may not be possible. Nevertheless, the APA's EBPP policy and the report that accompanied it are remarkably inclusive of various perspectives while remaining unambiguous about the need to use evidence in a way that leads to effective services. What is needed at this point are clinically relevant evidence and investigations of how such evidence can be used to best benefit those served by psychological interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Yes, I have heard about family psychotherapy—but opinions are no substitute for data.

E. Rudolph (see record 1982-26266-001) criticized an article by the present author (see record 1981-33210-001), saying that the existence and impact of family therapy was omitted from a review of the claims and progress of psychotherapy. It is argued that Rudolph's claim that family therapy represented a significant breakthrough in psychotherapy is unsupported by research data and that overall results of outcome in family therapy appear to be comparable to those for individual psychotherapy. Results of a study by S. L. Garfield and R. Kurtz (see record 1976-24639-001) show relatively little involvement of clinical psychologists with family therapy in terms of time devoted to professional activities. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Licensing.

Comments on the pragmatic critiques of licensing made by S. J. Danish and M. A. Smyer (see record 1981-33472-001). It is argued that Danish and Smyer failed to note the deeper issues involved. First, no government unit can set rational licensing standards, and 2nd, licensing is a violation of individual rights. It is suggested that rather than trying to make an irrational and immoral concept work, psychologists should focus on developing effective alternatives to licensing. (2 ref) (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)     

Special Review: Some Recent Texts in Educational Psychology.

Reviews seven books on educational psychology. The first book reviewed is "Educational Psychology," by Glenn M. Blair R. Stewart Jones, and Ray H. Simpson (see record 1954-07938-000). The second book reviewed is "Principles of Educational Psychology," by W.D. Commins, and Barry Fagin (see record 1955-01422-000). The third book reviewed is "Educational Psychology," by Lee J. Cronbach (see record 1954-07941-000). The fourth book reviewed is "Psychology for Modern Education," by James L. Mursell (see record 1953-02945-000). The fifth book reviewed is "Introduction to Educational Psychology," by Clellen L. Morgan, H.H. Remmers, and Einer R. Ryden (see record 1954-08965-000). The sixth book reviewed is "Psychology in Teaching," by Henry P. Smith (see record 1955-01434-000). The last book reviewed is third edition of "Psychology in Education," by Herbert Sorenson (see record 1954-08966-000). Either explicitly or by implication, the authors are saying that the conceptual schemes that now hold the center of the stage in the laboratories are not, in their present stage of development, useful to them as educational psychologists, and that as a result they have had to develop and use others. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Just as arbitrary as ever: Comments on Zuckerman's rejoinder.

Responds to M. Zuckerman's (see record 1984-00261-001) comment on the authors' (see record 1982-09834-001) paper that argued that trait–state distinctions are arbitrary. It is concluded that without the state–trait distinction, psychologists would be free to use whatever measure "works best" for a given task and thus, state–trait labels for methods of measurement would no longer act as prohibitions against the use of the methods wherever these might provide successful prediction. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Process and outcome considerations in juror evaluation of eyewitness testimony.

Responds to comments by G. L. Wells (see record 1985-20040-001) on the present authors' (see record 1984-06612-001) argument that current empirical findings on perception and memory do not justify a role for psychologists in evaluating eyewitness testimony. The present authors argue that Wells's statements on process and outcome confuse the outcome of an individual trial and trials in the aggregate. The question of whether jurors tend to overbelieve eyewitness testimony is discussed. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The civil liberties of the participants in psychological research.

Comments on K. J. Gergen's (see record 1974-11186-001) contention that psychologists should use experimental techniques to study the effects of adhering to ethical principles and violating them in the course of psychological research. It is concluded that while Gergen and the American Psychological Association may adopt for their own purposes standards of research ethics, this does not lessen the responsibility to the individual researcher for safeguarding individual rights. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research etiquette in the study of clinician's behavior.

A critique of research strategy and tactics in the investigation of the processes and functions of clinical psychologists is presented using the report of Sechrest, Gallimore, and Hersch (see record 2005-10655-001) as an example. It is argued that the continuation of studies using college students as an analogue to clinicians contributes little to the understanding of such processes or functions and that the methods of differential psychology are more appropriate than those of experimental psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)