The author focuses on a historical analysis of the conflicting links between what is called “applications” or “practices” on the one hand and “theoretical research” or “experimental research” or “fundamental research” on the other, by following trends and cultures. Despite numerous declarations of intent advocating the need to link practices and theories, the fact remains that both types of psychology tend to move further and further away from this aim, since the birth of psychology. This growing gap questions the possibility of a total division between “applied psychology” and “fundamental psychology”. First, the author discusses the complexity of the terms used by the different authors, such as “applied psychology”, “practical psychology” and “concrete psychology”, compared to other terms such as “academic”, “experimental”, “theoretical”, “fundamental psychology”, etc. These different names are considered as an indicator of the fluctuations in the relationship between applications and theories. Second, the author shows that the field categories in psychology were built upon different foundations in France and underlines the consequences of this process. This viewpoint will be illustrated by a French case: that of the creation and dissemination of a new psychological discipline at the end of the 80s. The interest of this example is that it shows the disparities between the academic theories and practical developments. In addition, it allows us to highlight its tension lines, with considerable consequences for students and practitioners. The discussion shows the need to implement a real space that enables the analysis of concrete practices by psychologists considered as producers of new knowledge, and in this way to make the construction of new psychology models possible.

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Evolution of the Links between Research and Applications in Psychology across the United States and France: Illustrations and Consequences of an Endless Conflict

The Effects of Downsizing on Organizational Culture in the Newspaper Industry by Marcella Sweeney MBA, Strayer University, 2005 BSBA, Strayer University, 2004 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management

The Effects of Downsizing on Organizational Culture in the Newspaper Industry

Alfred Schutz original contribution to the social sciences refers to his analysis of the structure of the “life-world”. This article aims to invigorate interest in the work of this author, little known in the field of health psychology. Key concepts of Schutz’ approach will be presented in relation to their potential interest to the understanding of the experience of illness. In particular, we develop the main characteristics of the everyday life and its cognitive style, that is, its finite province of meaning. We propose to adopt this notion to define the experience of chronic or serious illness when the individual is confronted to the medical world. By articulating this analysis with literature in health psychology, we argue that Schutz’s perspective brings useful insight to the field, namely because of its ability to study meaning constructions by overcoming the trap of solipsism by embracing intersubjectivity. The article concludes by outlining both, the limitations and research perspectives brought by this phenomenological analysis of the experiences of health and illness.

https://serval.unil.ch/resource/serval:BIB_7078AE88AAD3.P001/REF.pdf

The Life-World and Its Multiple Realities: Alfred Schütz’s Contribution to the Understanding of the Experience of Illness

Causal-tree methods such as root cause analysis (RCA) are the oldest and the most widespread methods used to analyze the causes of adverse events. They are often seen as essential prerequisites to risk control. Over the last few years, however, a number of limitations of RCA have been pointed out. Starting from the limitations currently identified and from our own occupational health and safety specialists' experience, we have developed a new perspective for the analysis of accident causes, called constructive cause analysis (CCA). CCA is part of a tradition of activity-focused ergonomics. It posits that safety is mostly based upon the skills of individuals, at both operational and organizational levels, and it also leads to identifying positive elements in the analyzed situation. In line with the historico-cultural theory of activity, CCA serves the dual objectives of knowledge and action: the modifications found in CCA are based upon the confrontation of knowledge. The purpose of this article is to describe CCA. A case study from our own interventions illustrates the method.

New vistas on causal-tree methods: from root cause analysis (RCA) to constructive cause analysis (CCA)

This article traces the historical evolution of ongoing theoretical debates in psychology in France from the 1940s until today. Its aim is to show how the conjunction of certain conditions led to a rapid expansion of American-derived mainstream health psychology during the 1980s. The authors describe the French context in the post-World War II period and outline the implementation of ‘clinical psychology in health settings’ in the 1950s, under the influence of Daniel Lagache. The strong critiques of the new psychology profession in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s are examined. Our conclusion reflects upon future implications of ongoing rivalries between different approaches to psychology.

M. Del Rio Carral

Papers

Interpretation of Data in Psychology : a False Problem, a True Issue