Award for Distinguished Scientific Applications of Psychology.

Presents the 2003 APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Applications of Psychology. A list of the members of the APA committee who selected the recipients for this year and a list of the previous recipients of this award from 1973 through 2003 are provided. The award recipients for 2003 are Stephen J. Ceci and Elizabeth F. Loftus. The award citation, biography, selected bibliography and the award addresses for both award recipients are included. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nicholas Hobbs (1915–1983).

Presents an obituary for Nicholas Hobbs. Just at the end of his stellar career of public service through psychology, Nick Hobbs received very appropriate honors showing that psychologists and many others knew what a precious national resource his life had been. Only days before his death from cancer on January 23, 1983, he participated in the dedication of the Nicholas Hobbs Laboratory of Human Development of the Peabody College for Teachers of Vanderbilt University, part of the Kennedy Center for Research on Education and Human Development that he founded and directed at its beginning. Two years earlier, he had received two parallel American Psychological Association (APA) awards--one for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest and another for Distinguished Professional Contributions "utilizing psychological knowledge in the public interest and social policy." As the citations and testimonials on these occasions variously noted, Nick gave creative, responsible, and effective service to the institutions that he helped administer, to the Southern region from which he sprang, to the APA, and to the profession of psychology, but above all to the nation's children and youth, especially those who grew up with disadvantage and difficulty. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Irving B. Harris: A Legacy of Vision and Generosity.

Presents a brief tribute to Irving B. Harris upon his passing. Harris played a central role in launching the Harris School of Public Policy Studies and the Center for Human Potential and Public Policy at the University of Chicago. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Where is the psychology going? Structural fault lines revealed by psychologists' use of Kuhn.

Psychologists' appropriation of language and ideas from Thomas Kuhn's (1962, 1970b) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions reveals deep and contradictory concerns about truth, science, and the progress of the field. The author argues that psychologists, uncomfortably straddling natural and social science traditions, reference Structure for 2 reasons largely overlooked: first, because it presents an intermediate, naturalistic position in the war between relativist and rationalist views of scientific truth, and second, because it presents a psychologized model of scientific change. The author suggests that the history of this mutual influence--psychologists being influenced by Kuhn and vice versa--may usefuly inform current practices of psychological science. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interstate forensic psychology consultations: A call for reform and proposal of a model rule.

Forensic psychology has made important gains in professional recognition and stature in the courts, resulting in increasing demands for mobility of expertise. Current regulations regarding the interjurisdictional temporary forensic practice of psychology, however, are characterized by variability of regulations, ambiguity and inaccessibility, and continuing total barriers. A uniform, well-reasoned policy is needed. A conceptual basis for such a policy is provided by a discussion of licensing rationales and the application of these to forensic practice. Uniformity, public and professional protection, and practicability are identified as fundamental regulatory criteria. A Model Rule Regarding the Temporary Forensic Practice of Psychology is proposed for adoption by state licensing boards on a nationwide basis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Distinguished Scientific Awards for an Early Career Contribution to Psychology.

The Early Career Awards recognize the large number of excellent young psychologists. Recipients of this award may not have held a PhD for more than nine years. The areas considered in 1991 were animal learning and behavior, developmental, and personality. The winners for 1991 were Kent C. Berridge, Susan A. Gelman, and Randy J. Larsen. For each winner a citation, biography, and selected bibliography of their works are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of the American Board of Professional Psychology in professional mobility.

This article describes the role of certification by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in easing the process by which psychologists move beyond their original jurisdictional boundaries to practice psychology. Meeting the requirements for licensure or certification in the various jurisdictions can be a difficult task because these requirements vary considerably from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Other mechanisms that are available to facilitate this process include the Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards and certification by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. The ABPP certificate/diploma has been regarded by many state psychological associations and state boards of psychology as an appropriate way in which to recognize psychologists who are eligible for licensure/certification in a jurisdiction because of the examination requirements for board certification. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multiway frequency analysis for experimental psychologists.

Many research designs in experimental psychology generate data that are fundamentally discrete or categorical in nature, and produce multiway tables of frequencies. Despite an extensive and, more recently, accessible literature on the topic, multiway frequency analysis is rarely used in experimental psychology. A reason may be the form of exposition in the literature, with emphases and concerns far removed from those of the typical experimental psychologist. An approach to multiway frequency analysis for experimental psychologists is described that has the features we want: asymmetrical designs, factors assessed for their respective main and interactive effects in a manner analogous to ANOVA, and the ability to handle within-subject designs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological research, practice, and social policy: Potential pathways of influence.

Greater use of psychological research and practice knowledge in the formulation of social policy is necessary to enhance the well-being of U.S. citizens and communities. Although historically there are instances in which psychological and social science research and practice have had a substantial influence on federal policy, for the most part the relationships among research, practice, and policy have been tenuous. Three cases in which research has substantively influenced policy over the past 80 years are reviewed: Keynesian economics, Head Start legislation, and the activities of conservative think tanks. Several recommendations are made for ways in which psychologists can enhance their influence in the policy arena, including communicating directly with policymakers regarding relevant policy findings and knowledge gleaned from practice; conducting interdisciplinary, multilevel research as well as evaluation research (including qualitative data drawn from practice settings); and networking among researchers, practitioners, policy advocates, and social action groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Risk evaluations for the courts: Is service quality a function of specialization?

Psychologists are often asked to testify in court. However, concerns have been expressed in both the legal and psychological literatures about the quality of these services. This article presents survey results comparing the practice patterns of generally licensed psychologists with those of specialist forensic diplomates in providing risk evaluations. Results suggest that general clinicians frequently perform these evaluations, but forensic diplomates use more modern risk instruments, are more aware of the scientific literature, and provide the court with more information about the scientific basis of their testimony. The implication of these results for legal professionals, psychologist training, and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)