Accreditation of graduate programs in psychology: An analysisGoodstein, Leonard D.; Ross, Sherman
doi: 10.1037/h0021132pmid: N/A
Accreditation refers to the process by which an organization or agency formally recognizes that a college or university, or a program of instruction in a college or university, has met certain qualifications or standards. The purpose of this system is to maintain quality among the accredited institutions or programs. It is basic to an understanding of the unique accrediting function in psychology to recognize that psychology is the only discipline within the traditional graduate school of arts and sciences which has, thus far, attempted formal accreditation of the PhD degree. In order better to understand the issues as well as the present status of accreditation in graduate education in psychology, we will review briefly the historical development of accreditation and will sketch the current operational procedures.
Psychology's manpower: Characteristics, employment, and earningsCompton, Bertita E.
doi: 10.1037/h0021133pmid: N/A
Of 17,601 respondents to the Psychology Section of the 1964 National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel, 95% indicated their field of greatest specialization and competence as psychology; 90% indicated psychology as the major subject of their highest academic degree; 89% regarded themselves professionally as psychologists; and 88% were employed as psychologists at the time of the survey. The Register data described in this summary are based upon those 16,804 respondents who indicated a specialty within the field of psychology as that of their greatest competence. A look at the data pertaining to the characteristics of the respondents shows that 65% of them held a doctorate, 33% an MA or MS, and 2% a BA or BS. Fewer than 1% held less than a bachelor's degree or did not give degree information. Data on employment status indicated that 88% of the respondents in 1964 were employed full time as psychologists (the same percentage found in 1962), about 4% were employed part time, and approximately 3% were studying for advanced degrees (most of these being persons who had obtained a master's and were working on a PhD at the time of the survey). Two percent were not employed, and approximately 3% either did not report their employment status or indicated that although employed they were not working professionally as psychologists. The median salary for psychologists based upon 1964 Register data was $10,300. For those having a doctorate, the median was $11,000; for those with a master's, $8,900.
Presidential disability and the proposed Constitutional amendmentNoland, Robert L.
doi: 10.1037/h0021134pmid: N/A
A major legislative accomplishment of the Eighty-Ninth United States Congress was a proposal for a Constitutional amendment dealing with the issues of Presidential disability and executive succession. As a Constitutional amendment requires ratification by at least three-fourths of the states, it is important that the need for, and rationale of, the proposed amendment be understood by the citizenry. Of additional interest to psychologists and other behavioral scientists is the factor of psychological disability of the President, regardless of cause. The objective of this paper is a clarification and assessment of both the historical and the proposed methods of dealing with cases of Presidential disability. Special emphasis will be given the issue of psychological disability.
The international influence process: How relevant is the contribution of psychologists?Davis, Robert H.
doi: 10.1037/h0023306pmid: N/A
Since the advent of nuclear weapons, "emphasis has shifted from defense which is now technically infeasible . . . to deterrence, i.e., efforts to influence the decision to attack. On questions of national strategy, this shift has created an opportunity for the psychologist to present data and insights gleaned from many studies by: (1) devising models of international influence, (2) designing simulations or games and conducting research using these simulations, (3) drawing on research, and (4) using a game theoretic approach. Each of these approaches is discussed. What we should aim to do with the tools, techniques, and data at hand is to help the decision maker formulate more complete models of reality."
Driving and camping in RussiaHall, Calvin
doi: 10.1037/h0021135pmid: N/A
Some psychologists and their families may be thinking of driving through Russia in their own cars in connection with this summer's International Congress to be held in Moscow. The author of the current author discusses, from his own experience, the many benefits of traveling through Russia in by car.
Clinical training and expert testimony: CommentTeaiian, John E.
doi: 10.1037/h0021136pmid: N/A
Comments on the original article by R. Jeffrey regarding expert testimony by psychologists in two separate court cases. The current author opines that it is a highly questionable practice for the American Psychological Association to approve programs in clinical psychology when many of these universities cynically or indifferently designate the entire responsibility for training and supervision in psychodiagnostics and psychotherapy to others, outside the university, whose competence is often unknown.
Americans at an international congressWesley, Frank
doi: 10.1037/h0021139pmid: N/A
From the number of American participants at a recent international congress, one would judge the American's Einstellung as quite global. But, unfortunately, some papers were introduced with little international insight. American speakers should also gear their content matter and examples to the international audience. Although non-Americans are interested in American problems, speakers should not assume that specific American terms are understood without explicit explanations.