Computer Use by Psychologists

Abstract

During the last several years psychologists have made increasing use of computers in professional activities. Historically, psychologists have collected and analyzed data with them, most often with mainframes or minicomputers. Recently, the reduced cost of hardware and growing availability of quality software has made the use of microcomputers vital in the psychologist's workplace. For example, clinical psychologists employ microcomputers in administering and interpreting psychological tests and preparing psychological reports. As it is in many other professions, the microcomputer revolution is leaving its mark in professional psychology.The authors have surveyed academic psychologists in Virginia (Stoloff & Couch, 1987) and nationally ) to obtain an overview of how microcomputers are used in the teaching of undergraduate psychology. In the present article they expand this base and describe how the microcomputer can be used by the clinical psychologist as well as by the academic psychologist with examples of the software available for different needs.For academic psychologists, word processing is the most common application of computers. Many also use statistical software to analyze the results of their research and simulation or tutorial software to teach their students. Microcomputers are not replacing the lecture. They are, however, changing the way laboratories are taught. Simulation and tutorial programs permit a great variety of experimental conditions to be demonstrated without expensive, single-purpose laboratory equipment Michael Stoloff is Associate Professor and James Couch is Professor of Psychology at James Madison Umversity. They have conducted research on the uses of microcomputers m psychology research, teachmg, and clinical practice. Their directory of microcomputer software for psychologists is to be pubhshed by the American Psychological Association.Sarah Riley is an undergraduate research assistant at James Madison Umversity.

How Computers Use Psychologists

“…Three psychologists who are involved with computer interface design were interviewed. The mutual benefits of interdisciplinary efforts in computing are described.The first two articles in this series (Stoloff et al, 1987, Mruk, 1988 discussed a variety of the ways psychologists use computers. This article examines the ways computers have used psychologists-in particular the involvement of psychology and psychologists in the evolution of human-computer interfaces.…”