ANY psychologists consider the present journal system in psychology either insufficient for effective exchange of information or largely irrelevant to their information needs. In a recent questionnaire study (Kinkade, 1970), very few respondents felt that their needs for research information were being met by APA journals, and a large proportion indicated that much of the material of interest to them is scattered throughout several journals. In previous studies (APA, 1963), it has been found that the number of psychologists reading journal articles is very low relative to the number of subscribers. These and similar studies have pointed up deficiencies in the current forms of psychological publications. Some of these have been listed by Van Cott (1970) and by the National Academy of Sciences (1969). Innovative means for correcting these deficiencies must be developed if psychology is to grow as a science and as a profession.The APA has long been concerned with developing means for increasing the effectiveness of exchanging scientific information and of meeting the specific information needs of diverse groups of psychologists. For example, the availability of convention papers in the Proceedings prior to oral delivery has improved information exchange at the Annual Convention. Announcement of article titles and author addresses for manuscripts accepted by APA journals has helped researchers escape the penalties of long publication lags by indicating sources of preprints. Although these innovations have been helpful, the APA is committed to developing additional means for increasing effective communication among psychologists.With the aid of a grant from the National Science Foundation, 2 the APA has launched a systematic research program to determine addi-
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