As psychologists, we all know the excitement and potential value of the behavioral sciences, and we all know the utility of applying psychological knowledge in a range of everyday situations. One of my central initiatives as APA President is to take our convictions about our discipline to a broader audience. To do this I have set the goal of compiling a compendium of research that has made a difference. Please contribute to this effort by helping identify research studies in your area of expertise!

Why do we need such a compendium? Being able to document how psychological research makes a difference, within the worlds of both science and everyday life, will provide us with tools to do two very important things--to educate the public about who we are and what we do, and to make a case for using psychological science knowledge to policy and decision makers.

How can you contribute? You can identify research that has made a difference in two complementary ways. First, we are looking for research that shows a difference within the study, i.e., the tested procedures, groupings, manipulations that actually worked to create relevant consequences for some domain, such as health, education, or safety. Second, we are looking for research that has made a difference in its application or implementation in the "real world" (i.e., in making people better off, happier, healthier, and so on). An example may illustrate what I mean:

First, research on "physical touch" (handling in rats; therapeutic massage in newborns) shows that it improves physical health and growth (for difference within the study). Secondly, applied research on the use of massage in preemie units shows reduced costs (babies go home earlier and have better prognoses).

The compendium that we collectively produce will be a valuable record of psychology's value and strength. Thanks in advance for whatever assistance you can offer in this mission.

Philip Zimbardo
APA President