Q5: What concrete steps should APA take to enhance its science agenda (e.g., recognition of psychology as a STEM discipline; communication of the science of psychology)?
Psychology is a science-based discipline. Yet support for research in NSF, NIMH, NIAAA and NIH, among other sources, in constant dollars, has not been expanding, posing a potential threat to U.S. scientific leadership in the world. APA, both on its own and in collaboration with other relevant organizations, needs to do its part to successfully advocate for support of psychological research. We also need a specific strategy for attracting and retaining research-oriented psychologists as members and leaders in APA. Finally, APA needs to have a robust communication program to share psychological research with the public, legislators and other psychologists.
Q6: What is your vision for APA’s role in the global psychology community? How are you planning to further APA’s relationships in an international context?
We live in extraordinary times. Soon, psychological services will be able to be delivered electronically around the world, psychological research will be conducted using global samples and psychology graduate education will include work with globally diverse professors. But in expanding and adapting our services and research, there are also challenges, including standardizing credentialing, the need to expand our understanding of multicultural competencies to include international ones, and consideration of issues of validity and integrity of measurement in virtual contexts. We will need to prioritize these issues and the opportunities for collaboration with other psychological associations, but the prospects are revolutionary.