2003 Annual Reports for Boards and Committees

Board of Scientific Affairs

Suzanne. B. Johnson, Ph.D., Chair

The Board of Scientific Affairs held one meeting, on March 28-30. The fall meeting was cancelled due to association-wide budgetary constraints so board business was handled via email and conference calls. The following report summarizes the major issues that were of concern to the Board over the past year.

Advanced Training Institutes (ATI) : During 2003, the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) ATI was held once again in June 2003 at Massachusetts General Hospital. This ATI is funded for a 5-year period by a grant from NIMH, which began in 2001. Another ATI was held June 2003 on Longitudinal Methods, Modeling, and Measurement in Contemporary Psychological Research at the University of Virginia and led by John McArdle, PhD. A third ATI was held August 2003 in Chapel Hill, NC on Using Large-Scale Databases: The NICHD’s Study of Early Child Care. Through a grant from NICHD, this ATI on large-scale databases will be funded through 2007. In response to BSA’s recommendation to develop an ATI on Genetics, the APA has become an “affiliate” with the University of Colorado’s Institute for Behavioral Genetics workshop on genetics that has been held for more than a decade. APA has a link to the website and provides assistance in recruiting minority scientists.

BSA Task Force on Research Regulation : The Task Force was formed to assist APA in addressing the impact of proposed legislation and/or regulatory changes on behavioral research; developing guidance for interpreting new rules and regulations within the context of behavioral research; facilitating access to relevant educational materials to enable researchers to meet the regulatory requirement for education in the responsible conduct of research; addressing unique situations and challenges faced by behavioral researchers at undergraduate institutions; and developing mechanisms for supplementary education for clinical psychologists involved in research activities. The Task Force held its first meeting in November 2003 and agreed upon a multi-focus approach, with the following long-term and immediate goals:

Long term goals – Intensify advocacy efforts at the legislative and regulatory levels to influence pending legislative proposals and any ensuing regulations. Lobby for more behavioral science representation at the federal agency level and on national advisory panels.
Immediate goals – Produce and disseminate educational resources to:

Investigators (Faculty and students) – a comprehensive Web-based, dynamic, step-by-step resource that would enable researchers to navigate the IRB process. Include information that researchers need to know such as relevant regulations, thorny design issues and possible solutions or alternatives, data-sharing requirements vis-à-vis confidentiality issues, etc.
IRBs (Administrators and members) – Conduct workshops and seminars in collaboration with organizations such as Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) to educate IRBs about issues relevant to effectively reviewing behavioral research such as risk assessment, consent issues, etc. Also, conduct a needs assessment survey of IRBs to find out topic areas in the review of behavioral research (e.g., deception, sexual behaviors, illegal activities, third party risks, etc.) that they find most challenging and subsequently develop appropriate educational resources for broad dissemination. Finally, assess the extent to which IRBs routinely incorporate sufficient expertise to handle the range of protocols contributed by behavioral scientists.

BSA Working Group on Conducting Research on the Internet: The Working Group was formed to explore emerging ethical and scientific issues related to the conduct of research over the Internet. The group’s final report is available on the Science Directorate website. A condensed version of the report will be published in the American Psychologist early in 2004.

BSA Working Group on Genetic Research Issues: The Working Group submitted a report that provided background information, suggestions and rationales for possible actions, and other information pertinent to a “genetics in psychology” initiative. Science Directorate staff worked with members of the Working Group and developed resource web pages on genetics research accessed through the Science Directorate web (www.apa.org/science/genetics/homepage.html).

Task Force on Psychological Testing on the Internet: The Task Force, a joint Board of Scientific Affairs (BSA) and Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) initiative, produced a report that reviews current practices applied to Internet-based psychological testing and assessment; explores the psychometric, ethical, legal, and practical implications of Internet based testing and assessment; and addresses issues concerning test validity, test administration, test protection, and test-taker confidentiality. A condensed version of the report will be published in the American Psychologist in Spring 2004. The entire report will be available from the Science Directorate website shortly after the condensed version is published

Meritorious Research Service Commendation: BSA developed the Meritorious Research Service Commendation to recognize outstanding psychologists in the federal government who help foster research by their programmatic activities. Psychologists in federal funding agencies play a crucial role in the development of the discipline -- in running the programs that fund psychological scientists, in identifying new opportunities and directions, in working with the science community to develop programs and funding opportunities, in serving as catalyst for promoting cutting edge opportunities, and in shepherding behavioral research within their institutions. 2003 is the second year in which the citation was given. BSA chose five individuals to receive the citation for 2003. They were Steven J. Breckler, Edgar M. Johnson, Peter G. Kaufmann, Lisa S. Onken, and Delores L. Parron.

Decade of Behavior: The Science Directorate continues to coordinate Decade of Behavior activities. The activities of the Decade of Behavior for 2003 included: (1) Exploring Behavior Week-an outreach program to introduce secondary school students to the behavioral/social sciences; (2) Distinguished Lecture Program-support for cross-disciplinary addresses on Decade of Behavior themes at professional meetings of endorsing organizations; (3) Decade of Behavior Research Award - recognizes high-caliber research that has demonstrated impact on policy or society at large, has contributed to the use of social and behavioral science knowledge in policy settings, or has enhanced public understanding of behavioral or social science principles; (4) Behavior Matters Booklet Series – a publication that offers a sampling of behavioral research that has led to innovations and improvements in our lives.

Science at the APA Convention: The 2003 Convention was organized into plenary sessions, substantive division programming, topical track programming, board/committee programs, awards addresses, and an opening and closing session. The science programs included the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award addresses, the Neal Miller Lecture, the Master Lectures, and BSA, CPTA, and CARE programs.

Lecture Programs

Master Lecture Program : BSA selected the following speakers to participate in the 2004 Master Lecture Program at the 2004 convention: Steven Suomi, PhD, developmental psychology; Mark Bouton, PhD, learning, behavior and action; Leona Aiken, PhD and Stephen West, PhD, methodology; Ian Gotlib, PhD, psychopathology and treatment; and Susan Fiske, PhD, social and cultural psychology.

Distinguished Lecturer Program : BSA selected the following speakers to deliver Distinguished Lectures at regional psychology conferences: Mahzarin Banaji, PhD, John Gabrieli, PhD, and Randy Gallistel, PhD.

Neal Miller Lecture : BSA selected Bruce Overmier as the Neal Miller Lecturer at the 2004 APA convention.

BSA Committees: The work of the committees constitutes a large part of science governance as summarized below:

The Committee on Scientific Awards continues to recognize important scientific achievement in psychology through prestigious national awards. The Committee also serves as a resource for APA nominations for other scientific awards not conferred by APA for which members may be eligible. The Committee on Animal Research and Ethics completed a second program in the educational video series. This video focuses on the contributions of nonhuman animal research in the area of psychopharmacology. The Council of Representatives approved the CARE revised Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Behavioral Projects in Schools. The Committee on Psychological Tests and Assessment continued to collect comments from its parent boards on the draft document, Derivative Works as Psychological Tests. CPTA continued working on the Observers Statement. CPTA initiated activities to offer information and expertise in educational settings.

During its round of fall conference calls, BSA members elected Suzanne B. Johnson, PhD, as Chair for 2004.

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