2010-05-04

[DIV28SUPER] APA President-Elect Statement from Donald Bersoff

 Dear Division 28 Members,

Please find below a statement from Donald N. Bersoff, Ph.D., J.D.: APA President-Elect Candidate

 

STATEMENT TO DIVISION 28

 

Donald N. Bersoff, Ph.D., J.D.

2010 APA Presidential Candidate

 

I have been asked by the Division to share my thoughts and ideas about psychological science that might be of interest to its members.  I am pleased to respond to that request.

 

I took General Psychology over 50 years ago at NYU.  The first thing we learned was the definition of psychology—the scientific study of the behavior of human beings and other animals.  The definition has not changed, only our forgetting of it.  Science and behavior are like conjoined twins connected by their brains—impossible to separate and deadly to both if they should be.  Whether psychologists are clinicians or involved in public interest policy, the scientific underpinnings of what they do is crucial to their credibility. 

 

Psychology is the only behavioral health profession that has as its based the requirement that its practitioners have solid grounds in research design and abiding appreciation for its scientific foundations.  If psychology is serious about being a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) discipline, it must be willing to subject its intervention and assessment practices to the rigors of empirical investigation.  Thus, psychologists who engage primarily in assessment must rely on psychometrically sound instruments developed by our colleagues who specialize in measurement and evaluation.  In fact, the US Supreme Court in 1993 ruled that forensic testimony must be based on facts, theory, and methodology that is scientifically valid, not merely generally accepted.  Similarly, psychologists who provide therapy are increasingly realizing that if they are to survive the transformational changes that health care reform will bring, they must rely on evidence-based interventions, not empirically-unsupportable theoretical orientations    .

 

One of the activities I cherished most when I served as APA’s first general counsel was the drafting of friend of the court (amicus) briefs in the Supreme Court.  Whatever the topic, APA’s arguments were always based on the scientific literature.  Should I be elected, as APA President and Chair of the Board of Directors, I will make sure APA stays true to its scientific roots.  APA’s public interest and professional advocacy in the courts and in the legislatures will only have credibility if it is grounded in science. 

 

Last, and certainly not least, APA must make sure that basic science in human behavior is supported by NIH, NIMH, NSF, and other funders.  Advocacy for science and science education should receive as much attention and support within APA as is advocacy for practice.

 

My presidential platform is based on the concept of data-based public policy.  To paraphrase the song from Oklahoma, the scientist and the practitioner should be friends.  I pledge to advocate and foster this relationship.

 

No comments:

Post a Comment