How Do Psychology Professors View the Relation Between Scientific Knowledge and Its Applicability and Societal Relevance?

How do researchers in psychology view the relation between scientific knowledge, its applicability, and its societal relevance? Most research on psychological science and its benefits to society is discussed from a bird's eye view (a meta-scientific perspective), by identifying general trends such as psychology's dominant focus on lab-based experiments and general descriptive theories. In recent years, several critics have argued that this focus has come at the cost of reduced practical and societal relevance. In this study, we interviewed Dutch psychology professors to gauge their views about the relation between psychological research and its relevance to society. We found that psychology professors engaged in a variety of activities to engage science with society, from work in clinical and applied settings, to consultancy, education, and science communication. However, we found that the role of theory when applying scientific knowledge to practical problems is far from straightforward. While most participants regarded theories as relevant to understanding general contexts of application, psychological theories were seldom directly related to specific applications. We compare and discuss our findings in the light of recent discussions about the lack of applicability and societal relevance of psychological science.

The Sixth Brainstorming Research Assembly for Young Neuroscientists (BraYn), Naples, Italy, 27-29 September 2023.

The BraYn association aims to bolster young neuroscientists' research endeavors through collaborative support, fundraising assistance, and events promoting knowledge exchange and collaboration across Europe. Central to its mission is the annual BraYn conference, tailored for PhD students, postdocs, junior PIs, neurologists, and clinicians. This gathering champions cooperation, offering talks by key figures, educational workshops, and opportunities for attendees to present their work, compete for grants, and engage in international scientific experiences. The conference, established in 2018, has grown substantially in attendance and industry support and was adapted during the pandemic with virtual editions. The last sixth edition in Naples (27-29 September 2023) attracted over 300 delegates, focusing on peer-to-peer discussions, interdisciplinary collaboration, and interaction with renowned speakers, solidifying its place as a flagship event for Europe's budding neuroscience researchers.

Recognizing limits on the generalizability of findings of psychological science research.

The five commentaries on the target article "Generalizations: The Grail and the Gremlins" (Bauer, 2023) provide food for thought on the issue of generalizations in psychological science. Generally speaking, there seems to be agreement in the field that unrecognized limits on the generalizability of the findings of psychological science research are a matter of serious concern. This reply to the commentaries features elaboration of this basic point of agreement as well as discussion of other points of convergence with the arguments in the target article. The reply also addresses areas of divergence between the target article and the commentaries, and among the commentaries themselves. The reply develops suggestions for ways forward inspired by the commentaries. Echoing the target article, the reply calls for greater authenticity in psychological science research, movement toward which would strengthen efforts along the full range of inquiry, from basic to applied.

Lab Meets World: the Case for Use-Inspired Basic Research in Affective Science.

We join others in envisioning a future for affective science that addresses society's most pressing needs. To move toward this vision, we consider a research paradigm that emerged in other disciplines: use-inspired basic research. This paradigm transcends the traditional basic-applied dichotomy, which pits the basic goal of fundamental scientific understanding against the applied goal of use in solving social problems. In reality, these goals are complementary, and use-inspired basic research advances them simultaneously. Here, we build a case for use-inspired basic research-how it differs from traditional basic science and why affective scientists should engage in it. We first examine how use-inspired basic research challenges problematic assumptions of a strict basic-applied dichotomy. We then discuss how it is consistent with advances in affective science that recognize context specificity as the norm and consider ethical issues of use being a complementary goal. Following this theoretical discussion, we differentiate the implementation of use-inspired basic research from that of traditional basic science. We draw on examples from recent research to illustrate differences: social problems as a starting point, stakeholder and community engagement, and integration of research and service. In conclusion, we invite affective scientists to embrace the "lab meets world" perspective of use-inspired basic research as a promising pathway to real-world impact.

Landscape Change Scenarios: Developing Participatory Tools for Enhancing Resilience to Climate Change.

The impacts of climate change on people and ecosystems have been studied at both local and global levels. The environment is expected to change significantly, and the role of local communities in shaping more resilient landscapes is considered crucial. This research focuses on rural regions highly susceptible to climate change impacts. The objective was to enhance conditions for climate resilient development on a microlocal level by encouraging diverse stakeholders to participate in developing sustainable landscape management. This paper introduces a novel interdisciplinary mixed-method approach to landscape scenario development, combining research-driven and participatory approaches and integrating quantitative methods with qualitative ethnographic inquiry. Two scenarios for 2050 were built: a research-driven, business-as-usual scenario accounting for mandatory adaptation policies and an optimistic scenario combining research-driven and participatory approaches, including additional feasible community-based measures. While the differences between the projected land use seem to be relatively subtle, the optimistic scenario would in fact lead to a considerably more resilient landscape. The results highlight the role of interdisciplinarity and ethnography in gaining good local knowledge and building an atmosphere of trust. These factors supported the research credibility, strengthened the legitimacy of the intervention in local affairs, and contributed to the active participation of the stakeholders. We argue that despite its time, intense effort and limited direct policy impact, the mixed-method approach is highly suitable for the microlocal level. It encourages citizens to think about how their environment is threatened by climate change impacts and increases their willingness to contribute to climate resilience.

Design and Realization of Rural Environment Art Construction of Cultural Image and Visual Communication.

The practice of rural construction has been exploring and trying to adapt to the needs of rural development in various periods. In recent years, under the attention and promotion of the central policy, various social forces have joined the ranks of rural construction, and art intervention in rural construction has begun as a new method. Entering the public eye, it deeply intervenes in the construction and development of the countryside in a more gentle way, from the key point of interaction between the social and cultural orientation and the material needs of the countryside. However, most of the art interventions in rural construction practice only unilaterally use artistic techniques to beautify local areas or display works, without realizing the hidden artistic and cultural value of the village and ignoring the participation and role of the villagers in the whole process. After the construction is completed, once the foreign construction forces are withdrawn, the development of the village will stagnate. Therefore, mobilizing the main body of rural construction (original villagers) to participate in the joint construction of the village is an important link to solve the current problems of art intervening in the construction of rural settlements.

Involving children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in health care: a qualitative study of the use of patient-reported outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Within pediatric health care services, Patient-reported Outcomes (PROs) regarding the patient's health status are mainly used for research purposes in a chronic care setting. However, PROs are also applied in clinical settings in the routine care of children and adolescents with chronic health conditions. PROs have the potential to involve patients because they 'place the patient at the center' of his or her treatment. The investigation of how PROs are used in the treatment of children and adolescents and how this use can influence the involvement of these patients is still limited. The aim of this study was to investigate how children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experience the use of PROs in their treatment with a focus on the experience of involvement. RESULTS: Employing Interpretive Description, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with children and adolescents with T1D. The analysis revealed four themes related to the use of PROs: Making room for conversation, Applying PROs under the right circumstances, Questionnaire structure and content, and Becoming partners in health care. CONCLUSIONS: The results clarify that, to some extent, PROs fulfill the potential they promise, including patient-centered communication, detection of unrecognized problems, a strengthened patient-clinician (and parent-clinician) partnership, and increased patient self-reflection. However, adjustments and improvements are needed if the potential of PROs is to be fully achieved in the treatment of children and adolescents.

Evaluation of the Australian first few X household transmission project for COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The Australian First Few X (FFX) Household Transmission Project for COVID-19 was the first prospective, multi-jurisdictional study of its kind in Australia. The project was undertaken as a partnership between federal and state health departments and the Australian Partnership for Preparedness Research on Infectious Disease Emergencies (APPRISE) and was active from April to October 2020. METHODS: We aimed to identify and explore the challenges and strengths of the Australian FFX Project to inform future FFX study development and integration into pandemic preparedness plans. We asked key stakeholders and partners involved with implementation to identify and rank factors relating to the strengths and challenges of project implementation in two rounds of modified Delphi surveys. Key representatives from jurisdictional health departments were then interviewed to contextualise findings within public health processes and information needs to develop a final set of recommendations for FFX study development in Australia. RESULTS: Four clear recommendations emerged from the evaluation. Future preparedness planning should aim to formalise and embed partnerships between health departments and researchers to help better integrate project data collection into core public health surveillance activities. The development of functional, adaptable protocols with pre-established ethics and governance approvals and investment in national data infrastructure were additional priority areas noted by evaluation participants. CONCLUSION: The evaluation provided a great opportunity to consolidate lessons learnt from the Australian FFX Household Transmission Project. The developed recommendations should be incorporated into future pandemic preparedness plans in Australia to enable effective implementation and increase local utility and value of the FFX platform within emergency public health response.

Improving evidence-based practice through preregistration of applied research: Barriers and recommendations.

Preregistration is the practice of publicly publishing plans on central components of the research process before access to, or collection, of data. Within the context of the replication crisis, open science practices like preregistration have been pivotal in facilitating greater transparency in research. However, such practices have been applied nearly exclusively to basic academic research, with rare consideration of the relevance to applied and consultancy-based research. This is particularly problematic as such research is typically reported with very low levels of transparency and accountability despite being disseminated as influential gray literature to inform practice. Evidence-based practice is best served by an appreciation of multiple sources of quality evidence, thus the current review considers the potential of preregistration to improve both the accessibility and credibility of applied research toward more rigorous evidence-based practice. The current three-part review outlines, first, the opportunities of preregistration for applied research, and second, three barriers - practical challenges, stakeholder roles, and the suitability of preregistration. Last, this review makes four recommendations to overcome these barriers and maximize the opportunities of preregistration for academics, industry, and the structures they are held within - changes to preregistration templates, new types of templates, education and training, and recognition and structural changes.

Developing evaluation capacities in integrated care projects: Lessons from a scientific support mission implemented in Belgium.

The capacity of self-assessment, to learn from experience, to make information-based decisions, and to adapt over time are essential drivers of success for any project aiming at healthcare system change. Yet, many of those projects are managed by healthcare providers' teams with little evaluation capacity. In this article, we describe the support mission delivered by an interdisciplinary scientific team to 12 integrated care pilot projects in Belgium, mobilizing a set of tools and methods: a dashboard gathering population health indicators, a significant event reporting method, an annual report, and the development of a sustainable "learning community." The article provides a reflexive return on the design and implementation of such interventions aimed at building organizational evaluation capacity. Some lessons were drawn from our experience, in comparison with the broader evaluation literature: The provided support should be adapted to the various needs and contexts of the beneficiary organizations, and it has to foster experience-based learning and requires all stakeholders to adopt a learning posture. A long-time, secure perspective should be provided for organizations, and the availability of data and other resources is an essential precondition for successful work.

The BioExperience Research and Entrepreneurship Challenge: An iGEM-inspired applied research program for BIOSTEM talent and skills development.

Post-secondary education is falling behind in delivering the talent and skills development needed to support the growth of biology-based economies and the demands of professional and research-based graduate degree programs. Here, we describe an applied research program, the BioExperience Research and Entrepreneurship Challenge, launched in May 2020 to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduate experiential learning programs at the University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The program provided undergraduates with meaningful talent and skills development opportunities by implementing a student-centred, project-based learning approach inspired by the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. We present evidence from participant exit surveys suggesting that the program delivers a high-quality learning environment and improves learning outcomes compared to traditional work-integrated learning. Notably, 84% of respondents reported an excellent or exceptional learning experience and significant or profound improvements in skills, such as leadership (72% of respondents), problem-solving (42% of respondents) and research preparedness (52%) that are difficult to develop in conventional academic programs. Remarkably, 60% of respondents report that the job-readiness training provided by the program is better or much better than traditional work-integrated learning. Our study demonstrates that a cost-effective and scalable alternative to the iGEM competition can improve talent and skills development in BIOSTEM fields.

Biomimetic Research for Applications Addressing Technical Environmental Protection.

Biomimetic research has increased over the last decades, and the development process has been systemized regarding its methods and tools. The aim of biomimetics is to solve practical problems of real-life scenarios. In this context, biomimetics can also address sustainability. To better understand how biomimetics research and development can achieve more sustainable solutions, five projects of applied research have been monitored and analyzed regarding biological models, abstracted biological principles, and the recognition of the applied efficiency strategies. In this manuscript, the way in which sustainability can be addressed is described, possibly serving as inspiration for other projects and topics. The results indicate that sustainability needs to be considered from the very beginning in biomimetic projects, and it can remain a focus during various phases of the development process.

"Pick your team wisely": A case study of a long-standing research-practice partnership.

Research-practice partnerships (RPP) provide opportunities to connect researchers, practitioners, and/or community development professionals in meaningful ways, thereby improving the quality of research, evaluation, and practice in communities. Yet, there is still much to learn about how successful partnerships between researchers and practitioners develop. Historically, research on this topic has emphasized challenges that prevent RPP from developing to their highest potential, with limited information available on ways to promote RPP and how to ensure RPP are mutually beneficial for participants. However, research on partnerships more generally, such as multisector partnerships, can contribute meaningfully to the RPP field. We present an in-depth case study on a successful, long-term partnership. In this study, we pull from the broader partnership literature to explore contexts that are likely to promote partnerships, as well as the activities that can strengthen RPP. Findings focus on addressing ways to promote RPP and highlight the importance of preexisting factors, such as a culture that values both researcher and practitioner expertise, history, and chemistry between partners. Additionally, non-professional space and time, productive disagreements, clear but evolving roles, and shared power were found to strengthen collaboration within the partnership. Specific advice for anyone considering joining an RPP is also discussed.

Knowledge Needs in Rehabilitation: Perspectives of Service Users and Professionals.

Applying rehabilitation research knowledge in practice is challenging due to a gap between scientific knowledge produced by researchers and the needs of practical rehabilitation. This study describes the current and future knowledge needs of rehabilitation research from the perspectives of professionals and service users. We conducted a qualitative study with inductive content analysis from nine focus group interviews with rehabilitation stakeholders. The results show that current knowledge needs are strongly related to the meaningful and inclusive life of service users, the promotion of multi- and interprofessionalism in rehabilitation, and transdisciplinary applied research on rehabilitation. The future knowledge needs were related to the changing needs of rehabilitation and remote rehabilitation based on rapid change in society and digitalisation and on different rehabilitation practices and contexts. The results of the study can be used to enable favorable conditions for reciprocal research, development, and innovation (RDI) activities and research networks in transdisciplinary rehabilitation.

The science of school psychologists: Developing a standard definition.

This article offers a summary, synthesis, and highlights of processes, surveys, summits, and discussions among members of the Society for the Study of School Psychology exploring current and historical perspectives as to a potential definition of school psychology research. After multiple revisions, the final definition is as follows: School psychology research is the systematic investigation of phenomena concerning the educational, emotional, behavioral, and social outcomes, as well as the school, family, and societal systems in which these outcomes are imbedded. It is principally concerned with socially responsive implementation and translating research into equitable practices that can lead to improved functioning of students, families, schools, and community systems that support educational and psychological services. It includes basic and applied research and theory development that focuses on a wide array of topics including, for example, prevention, intervention, assessment, diagnosis, diversity, equity and inclusion, measurement, methodology, statistics, and professional issues. This wide range of topics is informed by diverse theories arising from a broad array of disciplines and investigated by researchers from a variety of educational and scientific backgrounds. Common to all of the areas of research inquiry is a focus on enhancing student, family, and community outcomes-particularly educational and social outcomes of all students-and in building the capacity of systems (schools, communities, and other systems) to support those outcomes with a commitment to incorporating social responsiveness in the research process. The aim of this definition is to embrace the breadth of scholarship informing and advancing the science, practice, and policy relevant to the field of school psychology.

The relationship between academics' strategic research agendas and their preferences for basic research, applied research, or experimental development.

In this study, we assess the association between academics' research agendas and their preferences for basic research, applied research, or experimental development. Using a sample of Mexican academics working in some of the country's most research-oriented universities, we identify three clusters. The largest is composed of applied research-oriented academics, the second largest is composed of basic research-oriented academics, and the smallest is composed of academics who engage in both basic and applied research, and experimental development. The strategic research agendas of the three clusters are distinguished from each other along four main dimensions: Divergence, Discovery, Mentor Influence, and Social Orientation. These findings show that strategic research agendas are associated with preferences for basic research, applied research, or experimental development, but only to some extent. We also extend the Multi-Dimensional Research Agendas Inventory - Revised, a widely used instrument for measuring strategic research agendas, by adding a new dimension, "Government," and validating the instrument in a new context. We also make the scale available in Spanish for use by academics, practitioners, managers, and administrators in Spanish-speaking countries.

Empowering local communities using artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence (AI) applications can profoundly affect society. Recently, there has been extensive interest in studying how scientists design AI systems for general tasks. However, it remains an open question as to whether the AI systems developed in this way can work as expected in different regional contexts while simultaneously empowering local people. How can scientists co-create AI systems with local communities to address regional concerns? This article contributes new perspectives in this underexplored direction at the intersection of data science, AI, citizen science, and human-computer interaction. Through case studies, we discuss challenges in co-designing AI systems with local people, collecting and explaining community data using AI, and adapting AI systems to long-term social change. We also consolidate insights into bridging AI research and citizen needs, including evaluating the social impact of AI, curating community datasets for AI development, and building AI pipelines to explain data patterns to laypeople.

The Curriculum Reform of Design Education Based on the Orientation of Positive Psychology.

In the process of China's rapid development, the society has higher and higher requirements for educational reform. Different from other basic disciplines, design emphasizes practicality, which requires that in the process of design education reform, more attention should be paid to the stimulation of students' subjective initiative and the improvement of students' ability to solve problems in the face of setbacks. This paper methodically expounds on a more scientific manner of curriculum reform fit for China's educational system, based on positive psychology and consideration of grit. It performs research and analysis on the design education curriculum reform on the basis of positive psychology through field research, logical analysis, and other research methodologies. Designing education curriculum reform based on positive psychology orientation is more feasible than standard education curriculum reform and the role of grit in taking part in the educational curriculum reform oriented to positive psychology is considerably higher than that in the conventional educational curriculum reform, according to experimental study.

Prevalence, progress, and subgroup disparities in pharmacological antidepressant treatment of those who screen positive for depressive symptoms: A repetitive cross-sectional study in 19 European countries.

Background: The European Mental Health Action Plan (EMHAP) 2013-2020 promoted community-based mental health services. One potential success indicator is the provision of antidepressant medication to those needing it. Methods: Public data from two surveys (Health Survey for England, UK; Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe) covered 19 European countries across EMHAP phases one (2011-2015) and two (2015-2018). People screening positive for depressive symptoms by self-report were included. The primary outcome was antidepressant use: using country-specific weighted regression models, we estimated temporal trends and subgroup disparities in antidepressant receipt, with secondary analysis by country-level measures including healthcare expenditure. Findings: Across 37,250 participants, after controlling for age, sex, wealth, and physical disability, antidepressant use (amongst those screening positive) increased significantly in 14/19 countries, with the smallest increase being in Slovenia (adjusted OR[AOR] for trend=1.68[1.20-2.36]) and the highest increase being in Germany (AOR for trend=10.07[7.54-13.46]) and Austria (AOR for trend=10.07[7.32-13.74]). The overall proportion using antidepressants was positively associated with national health expenditure (coefficient=5.43[1.62-9.25]), but not with gross national income per capita or the number of psychiatrists, general practitioners, or psychiatric hospital beds. In 15/19 countries, antidepressants were used less by ≥65-year-olds than 50-64-year-olds, with the smallest differential reported in Luxembourg (AOR=0.70[0.49, 0.98]) and the highest in Germany (AOR=0.28[0.21, 0.37]); this disparity widened in 12/15 countries. Men used antidepressants less than women in 8/19 countries, across phases. In 13/19 countries, people with physical disability were more likely to receive antidepressants, with the smallest gap in Italy (AOR=1.42[1.12-1.80]) and the largest in Israel (AOR=2.34[1.46-3.74]); this disparity narrowed in 5/13 countries. Disparity by wealth was found in 8/19 countries, but its temporal trend varied. Interpretation: Usage of antidepressants by those with depressive symptoms has increased, with wide variation between countries and subgroups. Disparities across age, sex, and disability should prompt further research. Funding: Medical Research Council (grants MC_PC_17213 and MR/W014386/1), UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East of England, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC-1215-20014).