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Evaluation ViewAttendees 9

Panel Discussions

Workforce Development / Training / Supervision

From ‘In Press’ to Impact: How Can We Ensure Psychological Science Changes the World and Improve Human Lives

Panel Discussion 31 - From ‘in Press’ to Impact: How Can We Ensure Psychological Science Changes the World and Improve Human Lives

Saturday, November 16, 2024
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST
Location: Independence II/III, Level 3, Downtown Marriott
Earn 1.5 Credit
Keywords: Education and Training, Dissemination, Career Development
Recommended Readings: Eaton, A. A., Grzanka, P. R., Schlehofer, M. M., & Silka, L. (2021). Public psychology: Introduction to the special issue. American Psychologist, 76(8), 1209.,   Metzger, I. W., Jernigan-Noesi, M., Jones, S. C., Turner, E. A., Saleem, F., Jackson, J., ... & Opara, I. (2024). Power to the People: Measuring Social Media and Mass Media Impact for Promotion and Tenure in Social and Applied Sciences. Higher Education Policy, 1-20.,   Ozer, E. J., Langhout, R. D., & Weinstein, R. S. (2021). Promoting institutional change to support public psychology: Innovations and challenges at the University of California. American Psychologist, 76(8), 1293–1306. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000877,   ,  
Scientists generate knowledge that should be used to improve lives.  But few decision-makers read journal articles.  Thus, many scientists lament that their work is not having the impact that it should, and many scholars aspire for a career that involves both academic publishing and the application of science to create real-life impact. 
This problem is somewhat unique to psychology.  Although our academic discipline is ironically more applicable than many others to people’s daily lives, psychological science often is neglected when stakeholders are making decisions relevant to critical societal issues.  In fact, it is often other disciplines that are credited as experts on issues such as mental health, yet these disciplines rely on our science to claim expertise.
This panel includes 3 senior scholars who have invested substantial time over their careers to both the production of scientific knowledge and work with stakeholders on the national and international stage (e.g., federal agencies, educators, non-profit groups, tech companies, parents, media, and lawmakers) to ensure that psychological science has an impact.  The panel will a series of critical questions that will require consideration to increase the impact of psychological science:
How can psychological scientists learn the skills needed to create maximal impact for their work?  Is this feasible to incorporate within doctoral training, or should this be an area of focus later in one’s career?
How can individual scholars increase the likelihood that their scientific contributions have real world impact?
What is (or could be) the role of professional associations in translating and applying psychological science?
What are the internal and external barriers we must confront as a field to increase the impact of our science on human lives?

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Discuss how psychological scientists can learn the skills needed to create maximal impact for their work?.
  2. Teach individual scholars increase the likelihood that their scientific contributions real world impact?.
  3. Address the internal and external barriers we must confront as a field to increase the impact of our science on human lives?.
  4. Advocate for professional associations to translate and apply psychological science.
  5. Get involved in public psychology.
  6. Advocate for professional associations to translate and apply psychological science?.
  7. Take action steps to get involved in public psychology.