Graduate Training And Experiences For Careers In Applied Experimental Psychology

Abstract

Introduction The distinction between applied and basic science is indeterminate and dissolving; therefore so too is the border between careers in applied and basic science. (For a detailed analysis, see Hoffman and Deffenbacher, 2011.) While academic scientists/teachers do conduct applied research, it is also not infrequently the case that researchers who work in government, industry, and private sector institutions conduct research projects that have strong basic dimensions. Despite these fuzzy and dissolving boundaries, it is one thing to train for a career in applied psychology as an academic, but another thing to train for an applied career in government, and quite another thing altogether to train for an applied career in the private sector. Selection of one’s career track still implies the need for some degree of specialist training. Notwithstanding the preceding observations, in this chapter we provide a spectrum of advice that we hope will prove helpful to all those who might consider such graduate training and the diverse careers in applied psychology, human factors, cognitive engineering, and/or related applied domains that are available. We discuss a variety of work setting issues (such as the academic, private sector, and government differentiation) with respect to the current Zeitgeist of applied research. We also try to be candid, though this brings the risk of disillusioning those who are young in science and, as yet, unjaded. Hence, we make use of both humor and sarcasm to flavor our observations.

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Publication Title

The Cambridge Handbook of Applied Perception Research

Number of Pages

1115-1128

Document Type

Article; Book Chapter

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511973017.065

Socpus ID

84954304872 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84954304872

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