Meeting the Nation's Needs for Biomedical and Behavioral Scientists (1994) / Chapter Skim
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4 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES PERSONNEL
4 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES PERSONNEL
Pages 37-54
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From page 37... ...
production in these areas has slowed somewhat in recent years. Based on this information, and information gathered from a variety of other sources, we conclude that the demand for behavioral science personnel will grow slowly as a whole but that He few behavioral scientists receiving NRSA support can expect to enter into productive employment upon completion of their doctoral or postdoctoral studies.
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From page 38... ...
We believe, however, that the national call for skilled behavioral science investigators should be answered swiftly and strongly through an increase in training support in this area. ADVANCES IN RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES The knowledge base in the behavioral sciences has reached the point where effective utilization of its findings by physicians, clinical psychologists, nurses, and social workers can have a very significant impact on health-related problems in our society.
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From page 39... ...
Over and above the issue of suggestibility is the well-documented evidence Hat the original memory of an experience can be modified substantially long after He fact by how questions about the experience are phrased (Loftus and Loftus, 1976~. Signal Detection and Medical Imaging Signal-detection theory is an outgrown of behavioral science, first noted in the field of hearing.
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From page 40... ...
Of the three groups of subjects used in the study patients, students, and physicians this effect was found to be the strongest among physicians. ASSESSMENT OF TO CURRENT MARKET FOR BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS The labor market for researchers in the behavioral sciences was robust in the 1980s.
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From page 41... ...
The behavioral work force is aging. The median age of behavioral scientists has increased from almost 40 in 1981 TABI,E 4-1 Racial/Ethnic Composition of Employed Behavioral Science Ph.Dos° 1981 and 1991 , 198 1a Number Percent 199 lb .
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From page 42... ...
The distinctive role of clinical psychologists further complicates interpretation of labor market data. The major source of new behavioral science talent has traditionally been our nation's university system, but some jobs in this 42
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From page 43... ...
period by the biomedical sciences and by all fields of science and engineering.8 Significant progress has been made in achieving gender diversity, and the behavioral sciences have been in the forefront of this movement. Women have represented more than half of this degree production since 1984 (Figure 4-7~.
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From page 44... ...
Thus, the Panel on Estimation Procedures will examine more closely the feasibility of estimating such patterns. Market Conditions This section presents selected indicators of short-term market conditions, which include unemployment and underemployment rates, postgraduation commitments of new doctorates, and relative salaries.9 Ur~employmer't and Underemployment As noted in Chapter 3, the most commonly used shortterm indicator of labor market conditions is the unemploy 44 1 2 0.8 0.6 t 0.4 0 2 \\~,/''J;" /~" \ ~ 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 Or: · Behavioral Sciences I Physical Sciences | FIGURE 4-9 Unemployment rates for behavioral and physical sciences Ph.D.s, 1973-1991.
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From page 45... ...
This supports the hypothesis that the relative demand for behavioral scientists has been declining. However, the behavioral sciences represent a heterogeneous collection of disciplines with quite diverse employment paths.
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From page 46... ...
The NRSA program provides predoctoral support for nearly 600 individuals in the behavioral sciences, although only a fraction complete doctoral degrees in Me same year TABLE 4-3 Committee Estimates of the Average Annual Number of lob Openings Needed to Sustain Various Growth Rates of the Behavioral Science Work Forces b Zero Growth Half the Average Average Growth Rate Rate Scenario Growth Rate Scenarios Scenarios .
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From page 47... ...
Because NRSA is such a small source of support, its effect on the aggregate supply of behavioral scientists will be small. Thus, the justif~cation for the NRSA program in behavioral sciences must be based heavily on need factors other than those generated by aggregate market conditions.
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From page 48... ...
However, because of competing but important developments in the biological bases of behavior, NIH has directed less attention to research training in the behavioral and social dimensions of physical and mental health than might be desired. It is the hope of the committee that expanded NRSA support in the behavioral sciences in the coming years will result in significant growth in the number of awards made for research training in the solution of social problems related to the health and well-being of all Americans.
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From page 49... ...
In its earliest reports, the committee presented the labor market outlook for Ph.D.s in the behavioral sciences as a whole, without distinguishing fields. In 1978 the committee, realizing that the analysis of He labor market was hindered by treating He behavioral sciences as a single entity, separated the data into clinical (clinical psychology, counseling and guidance, and school psychology)
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From page 50... ...
However, the committee noted that a substantial number of behavioral science courses were being taught to graduate students at professional schools public health, law, medicine, nursing, social work, and business which would tend to increase the demand for behavioral scientists. Recommendations in 1985 were for 450-790 predoctoral trainees per year and 460-800 postdoctoral trainees per year.
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From page 51... ...
Predoctoral Training On the basis of continuing gains being made by behavioral scientists in areas of national interest and of anticipated employment opportunities for highly skilled researchers, the committee urges the continued expansion of federal support through Predoctoral awards in the behavioral sciences. Predoctoral awards permit the preparation of investigators familiar with the broad range of research techniques and theories that characterize doctoral preparation in the behavioral sciences.
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From page 52... ...
We endorse the continuation of MARC support for research Raining in He behavioral sciences at current levels until that study is complete. RECOMMENDATION: The committee recommends Hat the number of NRSA awards for research Raining in 52 the behavioral sciences through the MARC program be maintained at about 50 per year, pending completion of the NIH review.
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From page 53... ...
Although the number of postdoctoral appointments are also thought to be strongly influenced by current job opportunities, we do not include them as an indicator for behavioral scientists because, as shown earlier, they are a relatively unimportant part of this labor market.
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From page 54... ...
Pion, G 1993 Trends in behavioral science human resources: their implica tions for research training.
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