American Psychologist

Caplan, Nathan; Nelson, Stephen D.

doi: 10.1037/h0034433pmid: 4699940

Discusses the definition of problems and causal attribution bias in psychological research into social problems. An analysis of the literature on blacks covered in Psychological Abstracts during a 6-mo period indicates the types of variables studied (person vs. situation) and the causal relationships between them. It is concluded that too much research emphasis is placed on "blaming" the personal characteristics of those experiencing problems, and that greater attention should be given to the possible influence of external factors. (21 ref.)

Epstein, Yakov M.; Suedfeld, Peter; Silverstein, Stanley J.

doi: 10.1037/h0034454pmid: N/A

Hypothesized that experimental situations are role relationships in which Ss and Es hold sets of expectations about one another that constitute an implicit contract between them. In a series of 3 studies with 245 male and 184 female college students, it was found that Ss could articulate some of the clauses of this contract and that they had a repertoire of negative sanctions for violations of the agreement. The strength of Ss' expectations as well as the legitimacy and desirability of the E's behaviors were assessed. Ss exhibited general agreement about disliking violations of those clauses of the contract which were related to the E's professionalism. Results also demonstrate that when a violation is perceived, performance changes may occur even without deliberate retaliatory action on the part of the S.

Cartwright, Dorwin

doi: 10.1037/h0034445pmid: N/A

Reviewed the literature on the risky shift phenomenon during 1961-1971 and conducted interviews with the major investigators in this area. The intellectual and social factors that facilitated and inhibited progress in this line of investigation are considered. T. S. Kuhn's concept of "paradigm" is employed to account for specific characteristics of the research and its current state of crisis. Results of the present analysis are related to the general problem of evaluating an entire field of research as opposed to the more limited work of a single investigator.

Harris, Jesse G.

doi: 10.1037/h0034709pmid: 4699941

Analyzed criteria of performance and adaptation of Peace Corps volunteers in Tonga (N = 52) who had received high overall evaluation, moderate to marginal overall evaluation, or who had terminated early. Ss were rated independently by 3 present or past staff members on a 24-item field-rating form derived from interviews. The items were found to meet criteria of internal consistency, interjudge agreement, and discrimination of the 3 subgroups. Both discriminant and factor analyses revealed that basic character traits were the single most important class of variables, followed by 3 factors labeled General Technical Competence, Cultural Interaction, and Interpersonal Relations. The necessity for pooled judgments by competent people and for basic research to justify professional psychological services in the field is discussed, and implications for the systematic evaluation of selection and training in governmental agencies are examined. (21 ref.)

Haskett, Gary J.

doi: 10.1037/h0034700pmid: N/A

Briefly outlines the historical developments in the interaction of psychology and education, and describes recent behavior-oriented approaches to education and society. The importance of increased participation and responsibility on the part of social scientists in the design of future educational and other social environments is stressed, and the possible problems of the developing "social technology" are explored. (60 ref.)

Wolff, Wirt M.

doi: 10.1037/h0034678pmid: N/A

Reviews the literature on the ongoing problems in screening official publications in psychology. Analysis reveals that contemporary concerns of authors, editors, and readers center on issues of accessibility and of quality. Various observations and suggestions regarding these publication problems are presented, including certain cautions about prior empirical data. An explicit schema for evaluating journal manuscripts is provided.

Cates, J.

doi: 10.1037/h0034683pmid: 4699942

Results of questionnaires administered to psychology BA-degree recipients (N = 4,320) in 1969 and 1970 showed 29% planning to enroll in a graduate department of psychology, 24% planning post-BA education in some other field, and 47% with no immediate educational plans. 27% of the employed Ss stated that their work was directly related to their training in psychology. Data are also presented on employment setting and salaries, financial support for graduate school, and fields of study other than psychology.

Stigall, Tommy T.

doi: 10.1037/h0038082pmid: N/A

Comments on K. B. Clark's contention that people seem unable to exercise power in such a way as to affirm positive human values because of the fragile vulnerability of the ego. The difficulty in advancing behavioral science and applying it to the solution of human problems is discussed in terms of moral values and issues of control.

Coates, Brian

doi: 10.1037/h0038083pmid: N/A

Proposes the development of a National Board of Examiners in Psychology (NBEP) to combat the problem of an oversupply of PhD psychologists in the job market. The NBEP would license psychologists and gather information on job opportunities. This information would be used to limit the number of candidates who passed the examination.

Maxson, Stephen C.

doi: 10.1037/h0038084pmid: N/A

Challenges J. Wilcock's suggestion that psychogenetics is likely to complement if not replace behavioral psychology as a contributor to the study of the evolution of behavior. Viewed with skepticism is the ability of measures of directional dominance made with domestic laboratory strains of rats to reveal information about (1) the genetic architecture of a trait in any single, natural population or (2) the adaptive value of the trait.