William R. Corbin, PhD

Corbin is a full professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University.

Tell us a bit about your background. What is your area of research? What is your most recent journal editing experience?

My research focuses on understanding factors that contribute to the development of alcohol and other substance use and related problems in adolescents and young adults. Using both survey and lab-based studies, my work is designed to provide new insights into the etiology of substance misuse. This work directly informs the development and evaluation of prevention and intervention approaches targeting substance-related problems. My lab-based work also has led to insights into the role of expectancies for and subjective responses to alcohol as risks factors for alcohol-related problems, and my recent survey-based research has focused on the role of drinking contexts, particularly solitary drinking. My recent prevention work is designed to reduce risk for heavy drinking and sexually aggressive behavior among college men by combining personalized normative feedback and cognitive training.

What are your main priorities? For example, how will you grow readership, what type of scholarship would you like to see in the journal, and what kind of content are you hoping to attract? 

Issues that I would highlight include

• A continued push to strengthen the focus on open science;
• Continued attention to issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in author representation and article content, as well as in the journal’s leadership;
• Increased attention to modern scientific approaches in addiction (e.g., ecological momentary assessment [EMA] and other longitudinal approaches, team science, big data, translational science, and advanced quantitative methods);
• Greater exposure for the journal’s articles in the popular press and social media; and
• Innovative approaches to the editorial process.

I would also like to increase the representation of high-quality science from international scholars.

Why is this journal important for the field? What is its relevance to society/public health?

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors is highly relevant to society and public health, as the journal addresses the full range of addictive behaviors and values a transdisciplinary approach to science. Articles make critical contributions by refining theoretical models of addiction, examining the efficacy of prevention and intervention approaches, and directly informing policy efforts to reduce substance-related harm. Our strong commitment to inclusive excellence and open science enhances these efforts by ensuring a wide range of perspectives and approaches while also attending to the rigor and reproducibility of the work we publish.

What challenges, if any, lie ahead for the field and/or the journal? What issues do you see as important for the field to address more broadly?

Whereas the challenges are well understood, we are still wrestling with their solutions. We must think creatively about how to incentivize scholars to engage in the peer review process at all levels to allow for timely and high-quality reviews given all the competing responsibilities that scientists manage. Another critical issue is how to capitalize on the massive potential of artificial intelligence (AI) while also safeguarding the scientific integrity of both the published research and the review process. It also is important to continue to push for greater rigor and reproducibility of psychological science by embracing open science practices and better disseminating our work to broader audiences in more easily digestible formats.   

Do you have plans for a special issue or changes to the editorial process? Have you introduced or are you planning to introduce any changes?

I am incredibly lucky to be following in the footsteps of Katie Witkiewitz, PhD, who is leaving the journal in a terrific place, so I do not have plans for big changes. My focus thus far has been on making the review process more efficient for our editorial team and reviewers and working to build a strong team committed to the journal’s success. I’m also considering new ways to incentivize reviewers and potential innovative publication formats that will promote open science practices. Many topics would be great for special issues, for example, the role of AI in addiction science; the evaluation of novel medications such as GLP-1s; and the examination of emerging products in the market, such as THC-infused beverages and absorbed nicotine products. I have not yet settled on any specific issues but am excited to think about the possibilities.

What advice would you offer new authors hoping to publish in the journal? What are you looking for in a manuscript?

A strong theoretical foundation and methodological rigor are important for articles in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. We value work that advances theoretical models of addiction across the full range of addictive behaviors. Questions related to mechanisms of influence or conditions under which risk and protective factors operate are good examples. For methods, we seek work that allows for strong inferences, including experimental lab studies, longitudinal data, EMA data, and randomized clinical trials. Studies using qualitative approaches or mixed methods are also a good fit, and we particularly value work that has important public policy implications. Finally, manuscripts that use state-of-the-science analytic approaches and embrace open science practices are more likely to be received positively.