I am trying to finish my Ph.D. and have taken an industry position. I can
tell you that at least in some departments there is a bias against applied
psychology. I have seen it in the eyes of faculty and upper level graduate
students. More than that though, I have heard it. There is a stigma against
applied research and applied jobs.
Some faculty seem to feel that they need to pass on their academic
genes. And, by training faculty they make sure their genes get passed on.
They feel anything else is a waste of their genes and as Philip Zimbardo is
quoted as saying, "It is unlikely he's going to publish, go to conventions,
or teach... A lot of the value that went into teaching him will be wasted.
He will be lost in terms of that luster for the department."
I do not consider what I am doing to be a waste. In fact, I feel
genuinely appreciated and respected in industry, something I cannot say
about being an upper level graduate student. That was what first attracted
me to academics (because I felt a great deal of respect and appreciation
towards my mentors). It isn't just the money, although education in America
is devalued, horribly. But, I get paid well to conduct research. I don't
have to generate funds to do my research; and, I do teach. Sometimes one on
one and sometimes in a group.
But what I see as an even greater concern (and this is something many
graduate students are discussing regularly) is the fact that the academic
jobs aren't there. Psychology departments need to tough it up and change
with the times. They need to accept the fact that there are more
opportunities in industry and find a way to regain the "luster" that
Zimbardo is so concerned about losing.
I think the department's Ph.D.s who choose to work in industry can be a
tremendous asset instead of the liability many seem to think we are.
Susan Waters
University of Kentucky
>
> Quoting Miguel Roig <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
>> From my point of view there is absolutely nothing wrong. In fact, in
>> the past
>> I have question here on TIPS the wisdom of emphasizing academic
>> psychology to
>> our students given the dearth of opportunities in this area.
>>
>
> I agree with Miguel whole-heartedly. I took me 3-1/2 years to get an academic
> position--I was on the verge of leaving academia for industry simply because
> of
> the difficulty in getting a job of any kind--let alone decent paying, or wiht
> a
> tenure track--
>
> I think it is somewhat immoral and unethical to train more people than can
> possibly find employment if we intend for all of them to work in academia.
>
> We have hired (and had searches for) 3 position in 3 years. Each search netted
> well over 100 candidates for each position--this should tell us something
> about
> the situation in terms of real emplyment opportunities!!!!!
>
> annette
> (thankful each day that goes by that I have this position--well, most days,
> there are few I wonder about...)
>
>
> Annette Taylor, Ph.D.
> Associate Professor of Psychology
> University of San Diego
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
