A Road Less Traveled: Forging Links between Psychological Science and Social Policy
Psychological science contains a wealth of knowledge and a tremendous potential of informing solutions to many urgent issues the global society faces today. From climate change to public health, from domestic education to foreign policy, psychology has a great deal to offer to the policy world. Yet, while many important policy discussions have benefited from psychological knowledge, a great deal of critical and policy-relevant information that our field produces never reaches policy makers. To understand why this discrepancy occurs and how to overcome it and to define the challenges and promises of psychology-policy relationships, SPSSI will gather concerned psychologists and interested policymakers in Washington, DC on June 19-21, 2015. This smaller meeting will provide a forum for focused discussions. In addition, this meeting can help evaluate whether SPSSI should continue hosting annual rather than biennial conferences.
Under the broad umbrella of understanding how to build durable bridges between psychology and policy, we plan to discuss several related issues. In addition to current psychological research with direct relevance to policy, there are several questions of specific interest: What is the role of psychologists in the policy process? What obstacles limit psychologists’ ability to contribute to policy? Do psychologists’ biases limit the research they perform? What can we learn from other disciplines? What, if any, changes should take place in graduate education in psychology?
Participants are invited to contribute through stand-alone talks, symposia, and poster sessions, as well as by organizing and taking part in interactive discussions with scientists and policy makers. Additionally, this year’s conference will feature several new and exciting formats, including 5-minute science-for-policy talks and a policy fair of one-page science-for-policy briefs. Finally, early career scholars will have a chance to choose a senior scholar for Conversations with Sages, which everyone will be invited to attend. Please see detailed descriptions of each format and submission guidelines below.
The deadline for all conference submissions is January 12, 2015. Notifications of acceptance should arrive by February 13, 2015 for symposia and by March 1, 2015 for all other formats.
SUBMISSION FORMATS
All proposals should include the proposer’s name, title, affiliation, and contact information as well as the names and affiliations for any other participants in the proposed event.
Note: All submission formats are open to scholars at all career stages.
• Symposia (90 minutes)
Symposium presentations include 3 to 4 talks on a common topic. Proposals should include a symposium title (10 words maximum), a summary of the symposium theme (200 words maximum), as well as titles (10 words maximum) and summaries (200 words maximum) of the expected contribution of each participant.
• Interactive Discussions (1 hour)
In this format, two presenters will open a discussion on a topic relevant to the conference theme with brief remarks and facilitate an interactive discussion with the audience. Proposals must include a title (10 words maximum) and summary (200 word maximum).
• 15-minute Presentations (stand-alone talks)
Individual proposals, including empirical reports, will be submitted as 15 minute spoken presentations. Proposals must include a title (10 words maximum) and summary (200 words maximum).
• Poster Presentations
Individual proposals, including empirical reports, will be presented in poster sessions. Proposals must include a title (10 words maximum) and a summary (200 words maximum).
• 5-Minute Science-for-policy Talks
Geared specifically for policy audiences, participating scholars will have 5 minutes to present their research. Each session will allow up to 10 presentations and ample time for discussion. Proposals must include a title (10 words maximum) and a summary (200 words maximum). SPSSI will provide the accepted participants with the resources for constructing effective short presentations for policy audiences.
• Science-for-Policy Briefs
Participating scholars are invited to submit one-page science-policy briefs, which would aim to inform policy makers of scientific findings pertinent to some of the current policy issues. The accepted briefs will be showcased at a poster/brief session attended by scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, who will be able to request additional hard and electronic copies for potential distribution in policy and practice circles. Select briefs will be also highlighted on the SPSSI website. Proposals for briefs must include a title (10 words maximum) and a summary (200 words maximum) and are due on January 12, 2015. If accepted, the completed briefs will have to be submitted no later than April 1, 2015.
• Conversations with Sages
Early career scholars are invited to submit proposals for this format in which they would propose a public conversation with a senior scholar whose psychological research has influenced policy. Using the format followed by APA’s History Division, the proposer would interview the eminent scholar on what he or she has found to be the barriers and obstacles of carrying out research that impacts policy and how she or he overcame those obstacles. These sessions at the conference would be a way to increase the discussion between generations of scholars on how SPSSI can strengthen the research-to-policy connections. Proposal should include a title (10 words maximum) and a summary (200 words maximum). Proposers should secure an expression of preliminary interest in participation from the senior scholar they wish to interview.
SUBMISSION PROCESS: We are using an online submission form.
- To submit a proposal for a symposium, please click: http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1838992-vqTwtUlm20
- For all other (non-symposium) submissions, please click: http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1838991-vqTwtUlm20
CONFERENCE PROGRAM CHAIRS
If you have specific questions about the conference, please feel free to contact:
Linda Silka at [email protected]
Katya Migacheva at [email protected]
Questions about the submissions process should be directed to Brad Sickels at [email protected].
DEADLINE FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS: January 12, 2015