I'm back :) Question about research only doctorates

Hi all,

A lot has happened in my life since I last posted. I got pregnant and had another child in April 2007, a little boy. I am also in the process of studying for my last three courses for my B.S.L.S. in Psychology. So far I have a 3.63 GPA, and I was awarded the Leroy V. Good award for academic excellence from Excelsior College.


http://https://www.excelsior.edu/portal/page?_pageid=57,387645&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

In the time since I've posted, I've become extremely interested in Psychological Research and have been reading anything I can get my hands on about the subject. In particular, I am interested in Positive Psychology, Death and Dying, and Transpersonal Psychology. At the moment, I am more interested in research than clinical practice. This is where my question comes into play. Does anyone know of any U.S. RA equivalent Research only PhD's in Psychology offered at South African, British or Austrailan Universities? Would a research only doctorate qualify one to teach at a U.S. institution? I will also be paying for this out of pocket, as my employer will only reimburse Business related degrees at the time. My background in academic research is somewhat weak though, so I will be supplementing the degree program with coursework in Research Methods and Academic Writing.

It's good to be back!

Thanks in advance!

Rhonda

 

Thanks, Steve. No, I have not considered where I would like to complete my Master's program. Most likely, I would prefer to complete the Master's at the same institution as the Doctorate. I am open to any research only Master's degrees that are cost effective. I have been looking at UNISA's M.A. Psychology program, and I have many more questions. How is a student guided though the Thesis/ Dissertation process? Is there a step-by-step approach (proposal, literature review...etc) or are we thrown to the wind? Would the PhD qualify me to teach? Are UNISA's degrees accepted in the United States as legitimate? How many years does the Master's process usually take? Do we defend our dissertation? Do we take comps? Must we contribute to an original body of knowledge in the field of study or are study replications allowed?

I just don't want to set myself up for failure. I am serious about education though, and I DO want to become a PhD. Most significantly though, I want to contribute to the body of knowledge of Psychology.

Thanks!

 

Welcome back, Rhonda. A couple of cautionary notes as you proceed:

Two of the areas of psychology you have mentioned fall within the realm of new age thought as opposed to traditional psychology. While there is a market (indeed, a strong one) for thinkers and teachers in these areas, you will not find it in the traditional millieu, which requires an APA-approved doctorate in psychology. In other words, even those "institutions" (which I interpret as colleges and universities) that lean toward positive or transpersonal psysh want their faculty to have paid the traditional dues of an APA-approved doctorate and, ultimately, licensure as a psychologist.

The other factor you should consider is that, in whatever realm you market yourself, you nevercall yourself a psychologist (of any type). Psychologist is a protected term, and only those who are licensed can use it. (Also be careful with the term counselor, depending on whether you live in a state with a voluntary title act or a mandatory practice act that covers counselor licensure.)

All that said, there is a demand in your field of interest (just read any novelle age magazine), although a position as, say, a tenured educator in the field of psychology in any traditional college or university is unlikely with the background you suggest.

 

Thank you for the response, Steve. I suppose I knew the reality of the situation but decided to ask anyway. My main motivation for this type of degree would be to actually go through the research process in an area I am particularly interested in, and after completing my dissertation, publish books and articles in well known and respected journals. My pursuit of this degree is more for personal satisfaction than for the attainment of educational credentials. This is a lofty goal, I know, but I am motivated and excited about the prospect. You really can't beat the price of UNISA either!

 

Not true (at least not in Pennsylvania). See below.



16 (6) Nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the
17 practice of psychology or use of an official title on the part
18 of a member of the faculty or staff of a duly accredited
19 university or college[, hospital or State-approved nonpublic
20 school] in so far as such practice is a part of the normal
21 function of his salaried position or is performed on behalf of
22 or according to the usual expectations of his employer. Nothing
23 in this act shall be construed to limit the practice of
24 psychology or use of an official title on the part of a student,
25 intern or resident in psychology, pursuing a course of study in
26 a duly accredited university, college or hospital or similar
27 training facility for the qualified training of psychologists,
28 provided that such practice and use of title constitute a part
29 of his supervised course of study, and he is designated by such
30 titles as "psychology intern," "psychology trainee," or other
1 title clearly indicating such training status. Nothing in this
2 act shall be construed to limit the activities of a faculty or
3 staff member of a duly accredited university, college, or
4 hospital, or research unit of a duly recognized business or
5 industrial firm or corporation, in the performance of
6 experimental and scientific research activities for the primary
7 purpose of contributing to or enlarging upon scientific
8 principles of psychology. Nothing in this act shall be construed
9 to limit the use of the term "psychology," "psychologist," or
10 "psychological," in connection with the aforementioned
11 experimental or scientific research activities or for the
12 purpose of publication of the research findings in professional
13 and scientific journals, or for the purpose of providing
14 scientific information to any user of such information.

Source: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/public/BtCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=1977&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=1657&pn=2198

- Tom

 

Hey Tom!

I see you changed your focus a bit since we talked last. What made you decide to stop pursuing your BS from National University in Psychology?

 

Section 3. "It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the practice of psychology or to offer or attempt to do so or to hold himself out to the public by any title or description of services incorporating the words "psychological," "psychologist" or "psychology" unless he shall first have obtained a license pursuant to this act, except as hereinafter provided:

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/LIB/bpoa/20/10/psybd-act.pdf

- According to the act, an unlicensed person may not refer himself/herself as "psychologist" without a license. However, the word "psychologist" may be used for research purposes. Is a tenured professor of psychology able to call himself/herself a "psychologist"? The act is vague to me.

 

Yes, it is a bit vague. But it appears that lines 1-3 and 8-14 state that a member of an academic institution may refer to themselves as a Psychologist. If I were in that position, I would probably check with the state licensing board first though (just to avoid any lawsuits!).

 

Hi Rhonda!

I see that you are doing well. Congrats on the birth of your new baby and on your impending degree from Excelsior. I have switched schools and programs so many times, it is hard for me to keep track at times. I am still very interested in Psychology, however I could not pass up the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree through Aspen University. Until May of this year they allowed a student with 15+ years of work experience to enter a graduate program without first completing a Bachelor's degree. I entered the program right before the admission requirements changed to require a Bachelor's degree for all graduate programs.

I am about to start a BS in Public Health at APU. So, I will be simultaneously pursuing a Masters and Bachelors degree. Yikes!

Good luck with your studies (and the new baby!).

- Tom

 

Tom,

I've also been looking at APU and AMU for their Master in Management program. The Public Health degree looks right up my alley, too, especially since it is interdisciplinary in business and health. Like you, I wrestle back and forth with which graduate degree I want to pursue. In a perfect world, I would complete one Master's for career advancement (Management) and one for personal interest and growth (Psychology). But we all know the world is not perfect.

Good luck with your studies!

Rhonda

 

Please note that only about half of all doctoral psychologists are licensed - as clinical, counseking or school psychologists. The rest do research ,teach and work in business.
The APA policy on the use of the title "psychologist" is contained in the General Guidelines for Providers of Psychological Services, which define the term "Professional Psychologist" as follows: "Psychologists have a doctoral degree in psychology from an organized, sequential program in a regionally accredited university or professional school.
The American Psychological Society (APS), is the nation's leading society dedicated solely to scientific psychology. most non-clinical based psychologists belong to this organization. Doctoral level psychologists identify themselves as non-clinical psychologist as social psychologists, experimental psychologist, I-O psychologists,etc.
If one provides services to individuals or groups providing educational or mental health based services one must be a liscensed Psychologist. If one teaches or does research in a unversity he can call him or herself a Pyschologist but not a "licensed " Psychologist.
The Association for Psychological Science (previously American Psychological Society) is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1988 to advance scientific psychology and its representation as a science on the national level. APS grew quickly, surpassing 5,000 members in its first six months. Nineteen years later, over 18,500 psychologists in the United States and abroad, whose specialties span the entire spectrum of scientific, applied, and teaching specialties, are members of the Association.
If only licensed psychologists were able to call themselves Psychologists what would we call B.F Skinner, Philip Zimbardo, or Elliot Aronson?

 

Hi Rhonda,

You would be very interested in Saybrook, it's expensive but right up your alley in the humanistic emphasis. Good luck!