Appendix B: Subfields of Psychology

Transcription

1 Appendix B: Subfields of Psychology OUTLINE OF RESOURCES Lecture/Discussion Topics: Psychology s Growth Careers (p. 2) The Career Path Less Traveled (p. 3) Quantitative Psychology (p. 3) Preparing for Graduate Study in Psychology (p. 4) Student Project: Interviewing a Psychologist (p. 3) Classroom Exercises/Student Projects: Subfields of Psychology (p. 1) NEW Psychology and Other Fields (p. 1) NEW RESOURCES Classroom Exercise/Student Project: Subfields of Psychology This simple writing assignment is designed to get students to read about psychology s subfields and to think about what each does. Instruct students as follows: Imagine that you were told that you had to become a psychologist. Of the following major divisions of psychology listed below, identify your top three choices. For each, briefly explain why you chose it. abnormal, biological, clinical, cognitive, community, comparative, consulting, counseling, developmental, educational, environmental, evolutionary, forensic, health, industrial-organizational, legal, media, occupational health, personality, quantitative, religion/spirituality, school, social If you want to further explore this topic, when students come to class, ask them, by a show of hands or a classroom response system, to respond if they selected a particular subfield. Tally the results. Ask students why they chose, say, the most popular subfield. Alternatively, divide students into groups based on their first choices. Have students in each group talk about why that subfield appealed to them. After discussion has slowed, share with students the subfield you chose and why you chose it. Classroom Exercise/Student Project: Psychology and Other Fields Through this course students will be exposed to the breadth of psychological science. Your more astute students will see that if humans are involved, psychology is present (see also the list of potential careers for a bachelor s degree in psychology at on the last page of this appendix). Using nine of the Princeton Review s (n.d.) list of top college majors, ask students to identify their major. If their major is not on the list or if psychology is their major, have them choose one that is close. 1. Business 2. Nursing 3. Biology 4. Education 5. English 6. Economics 7. Communication Studies 8. Political Science 9. Computer and Information Science Either as a writing assignment or as a small-group discussion (ask students to form groups based on their chosen major), have students consider psychology s contribution to their chosen field. For each chapter you have covered in the course, students should address why that topic may be relevant in the field they have chosen. In business, for example, the information about sleep is very important because well-rested employees are much more effective than sleep-deprived employees. A company s policies about how shifts and over- 1

2 2 Appendix B Subfields of Psychology time are scheduled could be influenced by this knowledge. If you make it a small-group discussion, circulate among the groups listening for particularly good examples. Ask a recorder for the group to report to the class some of the highlights of their group discussion. If you make it a writing assignment, identify some good examples and share with the class. The Princeton Review. (n.d.). Top 10 College Majors. Retrieved December 30, 2014, from www. princetonreview.com/college/top-ten-majors.aspx. Lecture/Discussion Topic: Psychology s Growth Careers Tori DeAngelis provides a helpful overview of areas in which psychologists are in high demand. Students considering psychology as a career might take a close look at the following possibilities: 1. Program evaluation. Using psychology s research tools, evaluators assess the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, and organizations with the goal of improving their effectiveness. As DeAngelis observes, expertise in program evaluation is critical for groups ranging from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which spends millions of dollars on initiatives addressing poverty and health care, to the federal government s massive antidrug programs. 2. Working with older adults. By 2050, Americans 65 and older will make up 21 percent of the population. Geropsychologists work as researchers, as directors of older adult mental health programs, and as designers of smart homes and products that help older adults manage their lives. Deborah DiGilio, director of APA s Office on Aging, notes that Geropsychologists do everything from keeping older adults mentally and physically healthy and vibrant, to working with those who are frail and have cognitive impairments. 3. Aiding soldiers, veterans, and their families. The federal effort to improve mental health services for those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan has greatly increased the need for psychologists in the Department of Defense and Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). In addition to providing individual and group therapy to veterans, psychologists have become vital members of teams providing general care in VA nursing homes and home-based programs that bring services to veterans unable to travel to the hospital. 4. Homeland security. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses psychologists to examine the impact of terrorist threats and events from a social and behavioral science perspective. Psychologists study what motivates people to join terrorist organizations and how those groups elicit such motivations. Other researchers are examining the psychology of terrorist group operations as well as community responses to terrorist attacks and how to promote resilience. 5. Government service. Psychologists hold a number of key posts for example, as program directors in such science-centered agencies as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Many institutes of the NIH, including the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, have vibrant behavioral science programs. The NSF maintains programs in social psychology, human cognition, developmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, law and social science, and decision science. Psychologists are also in demand at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where they work in clinical services, administration, research, and training. 6. Workplace applications. The need for industrialorganizational (I/O) psychologists continues to grow. Technology, communications, and globalization have influenced the way I/O psychologists view organizations and work design. Executive coaching combines clinical and I/O skills to improve executive performance. Occupational health psychology focuses on fostering good health through job design, good leadership, and stress reduction. 7. Courtroom expertise. Forensic psychologists conduct psycho-legal evaluations and offer their opinions as expert witnesses in criminal and malpractice cases. They are involved in assessing and managing workplace and school violence. They also evaluate cases of child and elder abuse and participate in medical evaluations. Forensic neuropsychologists who have training in both neuropsychology and forensic psychology are in demand as courts increasingly seek expertise in medical and accident cases. 8. Multidisciplinary applications. Probably more than any other scientific discipline, psychology is a hub science, that is, one that connects to virtually all of the social, behavioral, mathematical, and biological sciences. Thus, psychologists are particularly well-positioned to take advantage of the move toward multidisciplinary research and applications. NIH is pouring millions of dollars into multidisciplinary health and social science projects aimed at understanding obesity, elder self-neglect, stroke neurorehabilitation, and physical and mental illness. Psychologists trained in human factors research are involved in creating robots and sensors that extend humans ability to work in remote or

3 Appendix B Subfields of Psychology 3 dangerous settings such as on search-and-rescue missions. DeAngelis, T. (2008, April). Psychology s growth careers. Monitor on Psychology, Lecture/Discussion Topic: The Career Path Less Traveled Students considering a psychology major may be interested in learning about some possibilities beyond the traditional career paths in teaching, research, and practice. You might note that employers recognize that training in psychology fosters skills that they seek critical thinking, statistical competence, and an understanding of human behavior. Tim Nichols (engineering psychology) works for Microsoft as a senior design research manager. His work involves determining why people play video games and helping designers create games that fit those goals. Kathleen Kremer (developmental psychology) works for Fisher-Price as senior manager of user experience. She helps toy designers create toys for toddlers and preschoolers. Mark Rosekind (clinical psychology and psychophysiology) works for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He helps identify how the errors humans make can contribute to transportation-related accidents. As a sleep expert, his input is invaluable. Nicolas Watkins (environmental psychology) works for BBH Design as a director of research. He helps design or redesign hospitals to improve patient care. For example, when patients can see nature out their windows, they have better outcomes. And when a hospital s physical layout matches the staff s workflow, errors are minimized. Liz Gehr (experimental psychology) works for Boeing. Her job is to figure out how best to train military pilots. Collier, L. (2014, September). The roads less traveled. Retrieved from apa.org/gradpsych/2014/09/career-paths. aspx. Student Project: Interviewing a Psychologist Students can learn much about the history and subfields of psychology by interviewing your colleagues. Assuming that your fellow department members are willing, form small groups of students to conduct the interviews. You might have students self-select, that is, form groups on the basis of their interest in a particular speciality. They might prepare a brief oral presentation for class or a written report. Tell the small group that they must ask the professor s permission to interview him or her and make an appointment in advance. They should have their questions written down in advance and limit their interview to 30 minutes. Donald McBurney suggests a number of interesting possibilities: 1. Please tell us about your undergraduate work. Were you a psychology major in college? If not, what was your major? What did you start out studying in college? Why did you decide to go into psychology? 2. Please tell us about your graduate work. Where did you go to graduate school? When did you get your Ph.D.? How did you pick the school you attended? Who was your graduate adviser? Who else had a major influence on you in graduate school? What was the major theoretical orientation of your graduate program? 3. Please tell us about your present area of interest. Is it directly related to your graduate dissertation? What would you consider your present theoretical orientation? 4. How has psychology changed in your time in the field? 5. What are the most exciting recent developments in your area of psychology? 6. What gives you the most satisfaction in being a psychologist? 7. If you had to do it over again, and you didn t go into psychology, what would you choose? 8. Can you help us trace your intellectual tree? Source: Reprinted by permission of Dr. Donald McBurney, University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved from Klatsky, G. (1999, March 14). History and systems activities. Message posted to TIPS@fre.fsu.umd.edu. Lecture/Discussion Topic: Quantitative Psychology Quantitative psychologists specialize in developing new research methods and analyzing complex data. They have expertise in statistics and measurement. The number of students specializing in the area has been steadily declining while demand for psychologists with this interest and training has skyrocketed.

4 4 Appendix B Subfields of Psychology Quantitative psychologists pervade almost every area of the discipline and are crucial to its advancement as a science. Because of their small numbers and the high demand for their services, they have the opportunity to meet and do research with top leaders in the field. They work as faculty at major universities, as researchers at testing companies and medical centers, and at private research firms and government agencies. In university settings, quantitative psychologists teach courses in statistics, measurement, and research methodology. They conduct their own research as well as consult with colleagues and graduates in data analysis. As research questions become more diverse and complex, they are challenged to develop and apply new methodologies. Quantitative psychologists with testing companies such as College Board, ACT, and Pearson do important work in assessment. They help to determine who gains admission to a college or university, who qualifies for mental health services, who is hired and promoted, and even who becomes certified to practice in certain professions. In government, quantitative specialists evaluate the impact of large-scale programs and interventions as well as evaluate the skills of employees. They help agencies make better hiring decisions that reduce employee turnover. Novotney, A. (2008, September). Post-grad growth area: Quantitative psychology. GradPsych: The magazine of the American Psychological Association of graduate students, Lecture/Discussion Topic: Preparing for Graduate Study in Psychology William Buskist and Caroline Burke s Preparing for Graduate Study in Psychology: 101 Questions and Answers provides a very helpful resource for students hoping to pursue advanced degrees in psychology. The question-and-answer format makes the volume an easy read. Among Buskist and Burke s recommendations (that extend what is offered in the text) are the following: Join Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology. (If your school does not have a local chapter, it may sponsor a psychology club.) Psi Chi holds regular meetings and often schedules trips to mental health facilities as well as local conferences and talks. Psi Chi chapters sometime maintain a graduate school resource library. The address of the national office for Psi Chi is Psi Chi 825 Vine Street P.O. Box 709 Chattanooga, TN Consider attending a local, state, or regional psychology conference. Also attend any talks, colloquia, or symposia sponsored by your psychology department. At such meetings, you will have the opportunity to hear established researchers and practitioners in the field. Begin reading books on graduate study. For example, purchase APA s Graduate Study in Psychology, which is published each year. It is an essential resource. The most recent edition (2012) provides information on 600 graduate programs in the United States and Canada. Examine carefully the admission requirements of programs that interest you. Note especially the average GPA and GRE scores of admitted students. If possible, become actively involved as an undergraduate research assistant. Search out faculty members who share your research interests. Become a student affiliate of APS (Association for Psychological Science) or APA (American Psychological Association). Annual dues for undergraduate student affiliates of APS and APA are currently $38 and $35, respectively. Begin reading the APA Monitor on Psychology and the APS Observer, which are probably available in your department or university library. In addition to reporting the most recent developments in the discipline, these publications include job listings for those with advanced degrees. Register and begin preparing for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The GRE General Test measures critical thinking, analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning skills that have been acquired over a long period and that are not related to any specific field of study. The GRE Subject Test in Psychology gauges undergraduate achievement in the discipline. Buskist, W., & Burke, C. (2007). Preparing for graduate study in psychology: 101 questions and answers (2nd ed.). Malden, MA: Blackwell.

5 Appendix B Subfields of Psychology 5 Potential Careers for a Bachelor s Degree in Psychology Activities Director Admissions Evaluator Advertising Sales Representative Alumni Director Animal Trainer Army Mental Health Specialist Benefits Manager Claims Supervisor Coach Community Organization Worker Computer Programmer Conservation Officer Correctional Treatment Specialist Career/Employment Counselor Career Information Specialist Caseworker Child Development Specialist Child Welfare/Placement Caseworker Corrections Officer Criminal Investigator (FBI and other) Customer Service Supervisor Database Administrator Database Design Analyst Department Manager Dietician Disability Policy Worker Disability Case Manager Employee Health Maintenance Program Specialist Employee Relations Specialist Employment Counselor Employment Interviewer Financial Aid Counselor Fund Raiser Health Care Facility Administrator Host/Hostess Human Resource Advisor Information Specialist Job Analyst Police Officer Polygraph Examiner Preschool Teacher Probation/Parole Officer Project Evaluator Psychiatric Aide/Attendant Psychiatric Technician Psychological Stress Evaluator Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist (PSR) Public Relations Representative Purchasing Agent Real Estate Agent Recreation Leader Recreation Supervisor Recreational Therapist Research Assistant Retail Salesperson Sales Clerk Social Services Aide Substance Abuse Counselor Systems Analyst Technical Writer Veterans Contact Representative Veterans Counselor Victims Advocate Vocational Training Teacher Volunteer Coordinator Writer American Psychological Association. (2013). APA guidelines for the undergraduate psychology major: Version 2.0. Retrieved from

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