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| Volume
1, Issue 2 |
October
2008 |
Psi Chi at SWPA: Dr. Randall Osborne,
Texas State University
It is a pleasure for me to let
all of you know what is and will be happening with Psi Chi in the
Southwestern Region. My name is Randall E. Osborne and I am just
getting started in my first term as regional Vice President of Psi Chi
for this region. I hope to continue the fine tradition of
excellence of previous regional VP’s and the officers of SWPA. In
my nomination statement, I promised to do all I could to bring the
“voice” of smaller chapters to the decision-making process, on both the
regional and national levels. I am pleased that SWPA (and SWPA
President Scharff) have provided me with this opportunity to share some
thoughts with you and encourage you to let me hear from you. |
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SWPA 2008 Invited Speaker: Dr. Stephen F. DavisDr. Stephen F. Davis has been a longtime member of SWPA, and has been a role model and mentor for countless faculty and students through the years. His 2009 SWPA presentation, Cheating and Education: The Most Dangerous Intersection in the World, is based on student-inspired research on academic dishonesty that he has conducted for the past 20 years. Currently Dr. Davis is Emeritus Professor at Emporia State University, and he serves as Visiting Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Texas Wesleyan University (Ft. Worth) and Distinguished Guest Professor at Morningside College (Sioux City, IA). Since 1966 he has published over 300 articles, 31 textbooks, and presented over 900 professional papers; the vast majority of these publications and presentations include student coauthors. Among his recent books are 21st Century Psychology: A Reference Handbook (with William Buskist), Psychology (6th ed., with Joseph Palladino), Handbook of Research Methods in Experimental Psychology, An Introduction to Statistics and Research Methods: Becoming a Psychological Detective (with Randolph A. Smith), and Handbook of the Teaching of Psychology (with William Buskist). Davis has served as President of The Society for the Teaching of Psychology (Division 2 of the American Psychological Association), Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology, Southwestern Psychological Association, and Psi Chi (the National Honor Society in Psychology). Davis received the American Psychological Foundation National Teaching Award, the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP) National Teaching Award, and an STP Presidential citation for Career Contributions. Additionally, he was selected as the first recipient of the Psi Chi Florence L. Denmark National Faculty Advisor Award. He is a Fellow of Divisions 1 (General), 2 (Society for the Teaching of Psychology), 3 (Experimental), and 6 (Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology) of the American Psychological Association. You can find a more complete biography on Dr. Steve Davis on our web site, on the Conference Highlights page. |
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Message from a Past President: Dr. Ken
Weaver, Emporia State University
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Report from the 2008 Education Leadership ConferenceThe 2008 Education Leadership Conference (ELC) sponsored by the Education Directorate of the American Psychological Association (APA) was held in Washington DC, September 6-9, 2008 at the Mayflower Hotel. The goal of the annual ELC meeting is to bring together leaders in the fields of psychology education, from various organizations, to discuss topics relevant to the teaching and training of psychologists. Attendees of the ELC represent APA divisions and governance groups as well as organizations external to APA (e.g. regional organizations like SWPA) which have an interest in the education and training of students. The first ELC was held in 2001 and addressed the Vision of Psychology in Education for the 21st Century.The 100-plus attendees of the 2008 conference spent the weekend discussing the topic of Internationalizing Psychology in the United States and its impact at each level of the educational process. Internationalization refers to a variety of “package” of programs designed by an institution that allow their students and faculty to interact with people, places, and issues that differ culturally from them. These experiences may take place locally or abroad. The event opened on Saturday night with a reception and keynote address by Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, President of Spelman College in Atlanta. Dr. Tatum spoke about her desire to grow the study abroad program at Spelman. She proclaimed that students who study abroad return to their home institution and country with a better understanding of themselves and the world around them. She identified obstacles and that she faced in building a study abroad program primarily with students from underrepresented groups and presented information about how Spelman addressed each obstacle. The Plenary Sessions on Sunday, September 7, 2008, addressed strategies for internationalizing the education curriculum. Panelists discussed the need for foreign language requirements in psychology programs and encouraged student involvement in study abroad programs. Presenters also discussed the use positive aspects of technology (e.g. Web 2.0) and its role in internationalizing psychology as well as the benefit of having international students in our psychology programs. Plenary sessions on Monday examined critical conversations about Internationalization and how to plan for the future. Monday afternoon included advocacy training by Soapbox Consulting for all participants who would be involved in making visits to Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Participants were prepared to meet with representatives and senators from their congressional districts and some neighboring districts. We were asked to seek support for the Reauthorization of the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and to co-sponsor or support the inclusion of the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act and the Campus Suicide Prevention Program. SAMHSA provides support for state and community efforts in the prevention and early intervention of substance abuse treatment, mental health and recovery and support services on college and university campuses. Congress has budgeted approximately 3.3 billion dollars for SAMHSA. SAMHSA is also “home to the Garret Lee Smith Memorial Act programs and would administer the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act programs,” which includes the Campus Suicide Prevention Program. To date, the Campus Suicide Prevention Program has given grants to 55 schools totaling approximately $16 million dollars. APA supports each of these legislative initiatives. Overall, the ELC is an effective way for APA to communicate its latest initiatives to the membership via the divisions, committees, and psychology-related external organizations. The theme for the conference changes each year as do the initiatives. Respectfully submitted, Loretta Neal McGregor SWPA ELC representative |
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NSF Funded Undergraduate Student Research OpportunitiesThe National Science Foundation provides funding for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs, which enable students to gain experience with working on research projects with faculty. Among the REU sites that have been established are approximately 40 that focus on social/behavioral research. Of these, about a dozen sites are located in Departments of Psychology. Since 2001, Dr. Melanie C. Page in the Department of Psychology at Oklahoma State University as directed an NSF REU summer program with Dr. Charles Abramson. The program aims to increase science education through the study of scientific psychology.Twelve students spend 8 weeks during the summer to carry out research with researchers investigating topics related to lifespan developmental psychology, including, but not limited to, children's social and cognitive development, adolescent and parent relationships, language processing, and successful aging. Students have worked with a variety of faculty members from the Department of Psychology at OSU, including Professor David G. Thomas, Dr. Douglas Hershey, Dr. Celinda Reese Melancon, Dr, James Grice, and Dr. Shelia M. Kennison. Students learn all aspects of the research process, including formulating hypotheses, integrating and analyzing scientific literature, study design, data collection, data analysis, and oral and written presentation of findings. Our program utilizes the junior colleague model. Faculty members serve as mentors and advisors rather than as authority figures. Students are encouraged to voice their opinions, question experts, and assume a greater amount of responsibility for their own learning. This model leads to students participating in research for the enjoyment of scientific discovery rather than to please an authority figure. Throughout the summer program, students also attend workshops that are designed to help them prepare for future careers and/or applying to graduate school. Students learn how to write a successful resume or CV, how to write a statement of purpose, and how to study for the general tests on the GRE. Students selected for the program receive a stipend of $3200 in addition to on-campus housing, a research stipend to cover such costs as photocopying, computer disks, and paying subjects, and a travel stipend that can be used to travel to a regional or national conference. More information about the REU program in psychology at Oklahoma State University can be viewed at: http:// http://fp.okstate.edu/melanis/reu/REU.html. Shelia Kennison Associate Professor Department of Psychology 116 North Murray Hall Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK 74078 (405) 744-7335 http://psychology.okstate.edu/faculty/kennison/kennison.html |
Psychologists and Prescription PrivilegesAthena Arthur*, Lawrence
Dilks**, Shelley Blancett*, Jose’ Levy* & Jackie Bourassa***
* Fielding Graduate University, **St. Patricks Hospital, *** McNeese State University In comparison to the natural sciences and medicine, psychology is a relatively young field: a field that has continued to evolve since Wilhelm Wundt (1837-1920) founded the first experimental psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany in 1879, and Lightner Witmer’s (1867-1956) establishment of the first psychology clinic in 1896 at the University of Pennsylvania. This evolution has carried the field of psychology through several developmental stages in the quest to gain acceptance as a science, and to attain the recognition and stature of medicine within the scope of health care. Just as the field of psychology has undergone an evolution, the heath care system has undergone a revolution, a revolution that has contributed to the importance of the role of psychologists within the health care system. This has led to one of the most controversial issues facing the field of professional psychology; a campaign for prescription privileges (RxP) by psychologists. This is not an idea born recently. As early as the 1980’s, the feasibility of RxP for psychologists was receiving consideration. In the November 1984, at the annual meeting of the Hawaii Psychological Association, United States Senator, Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii urged psychologists to seek prescriptive authority. Then, the 1985 Hawaii State Legislature considered legislation to study the feasibility of RxP for psychologists. However, the legislation was tabled due to significant opposition by the medical community. In 1988, as part of the fiscal year 1989 Appropriations Bill, congressional conferees directed the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a pilot project to train psychologists in issuing psychotropic medications under certain conditions. Finally, in 1989, the American Psychological Association (APA)’s Board of Professional Affairs strongly endorsed the immediate study of the feasibility of RxP and the appropriate corresponding curricula in psychopharmacology. The early 1990’s brought about further investigations of and advances of RxP. In 1990, APA’s Council of Representatives approved a motion in a 118 to 2 vote to establish an ad hoc Task Force on Psychopharmacology. In 1992, the task force issued a report to the council concluding that practitioners with combined psychosocial and psychopharmacological preparation could advance treatment, and in accordance, recommended multilevel pharmacological training. The Department of Defense (DOD) psychopharmacology training program graduated their first students in 1994: Navy Commander John Sexton PhD. and Lieutenant Commander Morgan Sammons PhD. The evolution continued to gain momentum in the late 1990’s. The APA council, at its New York meeting in 1995 formally endorsed RxP for appropriately trained psychologists. In 1996, a model prescription bill and training curriculum was formally adopted by the APA council at its Toronto meeting. Meanwhile, 1997 occasioned the APA Graduate Students organization’s adoption of a formal resolution of support for RxP. In addition, the APA council authorized the College of Professional Psychology to develop a psychopharmacology examination suitable for use by state and provincial licensing boards. By 1998, prescription privileges legislation were pending or were about to be introduced in seven states while five other states were actively planning to introduce the legislation. In the same year, the U. S. Territory of Guam’s legislature passed a bill granting psychologists prescriptive authority. In the year 2000, the APA Insurance Trust announced that prescription activities would be covered for psychologists in states granting prescriptive authority. New Mexico’s RxP bill passed in 2002, with the formal support of the New Mexico Medical Association, when Governor Gary Johnson signed New Mexico House Bill 170 into law. In 2004, the state of Louisiana became the second state in the nation to grant properly trained psychologists prescription authority when Governor Kathleen Blanco signed Louisiana House Bill 1426 into law. In recognition of the move towards prescription privileges for psychologists there have been several programs developed for training psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medication; of those, the best known is the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University’s post doctoral Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology. The program provides in-depth training in clinical applications of psychotropic medication management and integration of psychotropic medication with counseling and psychotherapy. The program consists of 450 hours of training and 432 hours of classroom instruction, with an additional 18-hour home study review course for the PEP (Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists). The program’s design provides psychologists with the opportunity to attend training on a part-time basis through the use a distributed education format. The quest to grant prescriptive authority to psychologists has spanned two decades, and nearly two thirds of our state psychological associations have established RxP task forces to investigate the feasibility of granting prescriptive authority to appropriately trained psychologists. Regardless of the opposition’s allegations that RxP would be a public health hazard, the RxP agenda has always been about providing the highest quality mental health care in a timely, competent, and cost effective manner. The granting of prescriptive authority to psychologists is an innovative solution to improving access to and coordination of quality mental health care to all American consumers. There is no doubt that RxP will broaden the scope of professional psychological practice as we have known it, and influence the future of applied psychology. |
Graduate Research Internship Experiences
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Texas Psychological Association (TPA) at SWPATPA was organized in 1947 to advance psychology as a science, profession and as a means of promoting human welfare by the encouragement of psychology in all its branches. TPA advances the promotion of research in psychology and the improvement of research methods and conditions; by the improvement of the qualifications and usefulness of psychologists through high standards of professional ethics, conduct, education, training and achievement.TPA is the ONLY state association that actively represents every psychologist in the state. TPA advocates for the psychological profession on the legislative and regulatory fronts. TPA worked tirelessly over the past several years to pass the Sunset Bill that assured that the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists remains an independent, autonomous state agency that oversees and regulates the practice of psychology in Texas. TPA has actively educated legislators and state board members on the important role psychology plays in the health care arena and how psychological research is advancing medical care in all disciplines. Here are just a few benefits of becoming a TPA member….
We want you to take this opportunity to become active in TPA by submitting a workshop proposal for SWPA’s 2009 Convention. TPA is honored to be an adjunct organization for SWPA and is very excited to be part of this outstanding event. Please go to our WEB site at www.texaspsyc.org and become a member of this outstanding organization. |
 David White Executive Director, TPA |
 Figure caption: Rochelle Evans, a graduate student in the Human Factors Research Laboratory at Rice University, prepares to record voice prompts of different personas. |
Research Spotlight: Human Factors Research in Telephony SystemsWe are all familiar with the ubiquitous visual progress bar that is often seen in computer and web applications. It is an effective tool for determining how far the current process has advanced, and for conveying information about how much time remains before the task is complete. While the design and implementation of visual progress bars is well understood, delivering the same information using the auditory channel alone is significantly more complicated.The Human Factors Research Lab at Rice University has been conducting research into the design of effective progress bars that can be delivered using sound alone in the absence of any visual representations. Towards this end, we are exploring whether novel stimuli (so-called auditory progress bars) can be designed that will provide listeners with a low-cognitive-load way of knowing where they are in a waiting task, and how much time remains. In collaboration with the Rice Shepherd School of Music, we have begun to create a new class of compositionally informed stimuli that will help us explore users’ time perception and mental workload in waiting situations where only the auditory channel is available. Waiting on telephone hold is a good example of a situation where information regarding the duration remaining in the queue would be useful for the user, and the auditory channel is the only way by which to deliver that information. Because millions of callers are put on hold each day, and customer satisfaction with the hold time experience can have an impact on their loyalty to a given company, an understanding of a caller’s hold time perception, and an ability to improve that perception could prove to be beneficial to the user and business alike. In a related line of research, we are also exploring the voice prompts that are used in telephone-based customer care systems. One important aspect of these delivery systems is the personality of the voice, or persona, that is used to deliver the information. Our research in this area aims to understand the impact that the perceived persona of the prompts in an automated telephone system has on user performance. Specifically, we are currently trying to determine if the personification of voice prompts can systematically change the form and accuracy of user responses when users answer questions posed by the telephone system. In collaboration with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, we are exploring whether voices of different personas impact the responses users give to an automated pain assessment survey that is given to cancer patients and delivered over the phone. This pain assessment survey, developed at MD Anderson, is used by physicians to help them determine how well cancer patients being treated on an outpatient basis are doing in terms of their pain management. The automated telephone system periodically calls the patient and asks a number of questions to determine how much pain they have and if that pain is interfering with everyday life activities. Clearly, accurate responses to these questions are imperative if the physician is to use the information to aid in the patient’s treatment. We are currently testing the response patterns of non-patients who are using the system with three different voice personas: lively/perky, somber/professional and sympathetic/caring. By understanding how these different delivery personas impact how the listeners respond, we hope to better inform the design of future automated telephony delivery systems. For more information, contact: Dr. Philip Kortum, Department of Psychology, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005 713-348-4813: pkortum@rice.edu |
Student’s Corner: Fundraising for SWPA TravelJustine Corthay, Stephen F.
Austin State University
All organizations know that in order to keep the group active within the department, school, and community and to simply have fun with social and service events, money is a necessity. But what organizations also come to find is that fund raising can be difficult. Well, the fall semester is underway, so it is that time again. It is time to begin yet another fundraiser, but I can guarantee that raising money to attend SWPA is worthwhile. Here are some tips and ideas to make raising funds just a little bit easier:
So, motivate your organization! Raise the money to attend SWPA, but on top of that, raise enough to allow your group to stay at the conference hotel. Fundraising is tough, but hopefully, with some hard work and these helpful tips, raising money will not seem as difficult this year. |
Déjà vu: Hurricane Gustav and University DisruptionJackie Bourassa*, Lawrence
Dilks**, Athena Arthur***, Jose’ Levy*** & Shelley Blancett***
*McNeese State University, **St. Patricks Hospital, ***Fielding Graduate University Hurricane Gustav began as all hurricanes do, and over time developed into a category 4 hurricane that threatened the U.S. Gulf coast and took its aim at the coastal areas of Louisiana. As Gustav approached, it raised alarms along the coast. Memories were vivid and painful of the devastation wreaked by the strong and powerful winds and rain of Hurricane Rita just three years prior to Gustav. Hurricane Rita caused billions of dollars of damage to the gulf coast, including millions of dollars of damage to McNeese State University itself. The damage in 2005 necessitated the closing of the university for approximately three and a half weeks while basic repairs were initiated. With hurricane Rita still fresh in everyone’s minds and the declaration of a mandatory evacuation of Calcasieu Parish by authorities, a feeling of déjà vu set upon the residents of Calcasieu Parish and students of McNeese State University. The majority of the students and faculty chose to depart the coastal area and head inland, becoming a small portion of the 1.9 million people who fled their homes and communities in the mass exodus. One of those individuals who made the decision to leave the area was Sonia Clark, a graduate student in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at McNeese State University. Sonia, after watching the news and discussing her situation with others, decided to adopt a, “Better safe than sorry”, approach and comply with the evacuation order. She rode with friends and spent four days in San Antonio, Texas. Sonia reported that there was a steady stream of traffic and delays were inevitable, resulting in a trip taking eight hours to complete, which should normally have taken five and a half hours. In hindsight, Sonia said she regrets the disruption, travel and overall chaos but she did enjoy the unexpected break from class. Because tracking the course of a hurricane is a matter of probability, no one can say with certainty where landfall will occur, and heading inland does not always guarantee safety. Billie Myers, a graduate student in both the Counseling Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis Program elected to go east to St. Landry parish to ride out the storm with her family. Her decision actually took her closer to the track of the storm and inclement weather. During the course of the storm the Myers family lost power and a tree fell near their house. Nearby, two people were killed by a tornado spun off by the hurricane. Despite the danger of the impending hurricane, some individuals decided not to evacuate, and made the choice to ride out the storm and remain in Lake Charles. Jackie Bourassa, a senior psychology major, decided to remain in the city because her mother is a registered nurse and was required to be on duty at St. Patrick’s Hospital during the course of the storm. Jackie and her son remained at the hospital in an area reserved for family members. She reported there was an atmosphere of anxiety and tension at the hospital, with memories of Hurricane Rita foremost in everyone’s minds. Though anticipating the worst, Jackie reported that she found the storm damage to be minimal with winds only approaching 45 to 50 miles per hour. The State of Louisiana, its administrators, and its residents learned a great deal from their experience with hurricanes Katrina and Rita, so now the people of this great state do not have to be told twice that it is time to leave when any hurricane takes a hard look and aims its eye at the Louisiana gulf coast. Déjà vu is an experience of something already felt, and is accompanied by a sense of compelling familiarity with an experience; in the case of hurricane Gustav, déjà vu was the reason so many left fearing the worst. As a consequence of Gustav, McNeese State University closed for a brief time to ensure the welfare of students and staff. Fortunately, the inclement weather resulted in little damage and classes resumed with only a minor interruption. |
