WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have awarded the American Psychological Association a $2 million grant supplement to engage in a multitiered partnership to leverage psychological science to address COVID-19 priorities, including psychological science related to vaccine decision-making and misinformation.
“I am thrilled that psychology has the opportunity to apply what we know to address this crisis,” said APA’s Chief Science Officer Mitch Prinstein, PhD, and co-principal investigator on the CDC grant. “Psychologists can serve an important role in guiding the world out of the pandemic. We are the discipline with expertise to address vaccine decision-making, and susceptibility to misinformation. I am glad the CDC is working with APA to use our science,” Prinstein says.
The CDC grant will allow APA to offer $1.4 million in research funds to psychological scientists, as well as additional resources to create continuing education opportunities to teach evidence-based psychological practices to all types of health care professionals who may be involved in conversations around vaccine decisions. The grant also will allow APA to develop a scientific consensus statement on the science of misinformation, to develop convention programming at APA’s annual convention #APA2021, and host a national conversation on the science of misinformation with relevant government agencies, journalists, and the public.
The partnership between APA and CDC is an example of how psychological science can be used to address issues that affect us all. One of APA’s key priorities is to ensure our science is used to solve the world's problems.
“It is hard to imagine an issue that would not benefit from the knowledge we have created from psychological science,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD. “APA works extraordinarily hard every day to ensure that psychology is used to improve human lives.”
The world has become especially interested in human behavior over the last 16 months, and APA has been at the forefront disseminating psychological science and resources addressing the complexities of COVID-19 and combating misinformation. Join APA2021 for a special session hosted by members of the Vaccine Task Force at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to learn about practical tips and techniques to use with clients, how to use research to facilitate vaccination especially in disproportionally impacted communities and ask questions. APA 2021 will also feature the latest psychological science from experts about research on COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy, fighting misinformation and bouncing back from adversity.