James Kelly (Washington) July 11, 2016

Your query stimulated me to think about how I view the topic of theory and when I began to think about the topic. My comments are autobiographical.

When I was a doctoral student at the University of Texas (1954-58) psychology was focused on hypothetical deductive thinking influenced by logical positivists. Primarily a Theory, and Theory only, was a source of hypotheses. Hypotheses were deduced from the theory. In my case, I made deductions from George A Kelly’s Personal Construct Theory (1955) to provide empirical tests of two of his constructs "permeability" and "propositionality." It was a privilege to have the theorist ok my deductions. I found some positive results from laboratory procedures. Yet, this experience left me feeling rather incomplete. I had no idea how these ideas would work out in real world natural settings.

As a post doctoral fellow in 1958-1960 I had the opportunity to work with Bob Newbrough and Sid Gelfand and three others to do a systematic literature search for the emerging community mental health movement. We all shared a commitment that the search be multi-disciplinary. This exploration of this vast literature was published as "Community Mental Health and Social Psychiatry: A Reference Guide" (Harvard University Press, 1962). That experience convinced me that inquiry for this new field must include: multi-disciplinary participation, varied research methods and collaboration with informants including a sampling of lives in context.

As I began to probe further I was informed by a colleague Martin Keller in Preventive Medicine at Ohio State about the writings of Verne Grant: "The Origin of Adaptations" (1963). This book convinced me about the interdependence of genetics, species evolution, and the power of environmental variation. I began to probe further and became familiar with the field of ecology and its devotion to natural biological systems. I also learned that up until the early 1900’s ecologists, who focused on species and their adaptations in varied environments, had met early doubts and challenges, even disdain from other biologists.

As I continued my reading and conversations I thought a field like community mental health might benefit from assertions about different individuals in varied environments. There could be new ways to think about the adaptation knowing about the multiple personal, cultural and organizational resources we may have available to us.

The talk given at APA in 1967 "Towards An Ecological Conception of Preventive Interventions" was the initial presentation of an ecological approach for the new field of community psychology. This presentation benefited from a two year post doctoral experience, which included a degree in Public Health, and fours years working with a multi-disciplinary team at NIMH followed by my first academic position at Ohio State University in 1964. There I tried out multi-disciplinary teaching and naturalistic observations of two high schools in Columbus Ohio and met a second year doctoral student Edison J. Trickett.

So my experiences at Ohio State, and especially later at the University of Michigan, convinced me that knowledge created beyond the laboratory was possible along with the freedom to think beyond past traditions. I was free from the constraints of deriving hypothetical deductions from theories validated in the laboratory. I was exploring new topics and had the stimulation and support to do so. There were few constraints upon theory building and research styles in my own explorations. I learned that IF we are too dependent upon previous traditions and we too closely embrace canons of past history we are not as free to try out new ways of thinking and doing our own inquiry.

My philosopher of choice has been Ludwig Wittgenstein. He was insightful, trenchant and free of cant. So, I was inspired to get at the processes of being a part of the settings that I was curious about. I benefited as well from the work of psychologists like Roger Barker and the scores of social scientists who were the pioneers of community inquiry that was collaborative with informants and hosts of the inquiry.

So, I am saying: Be cautious when too quickly embracing tough minded, gifted philosophers of positivist science. Such deference may have an unintended effect upon us: to close off topics of inquiry and push us away from participatory, shared collaborative learnings in communities.

Back in September 2013, William J. Broad published a news analysis in the NY Times. I still enjoy the quote he included from Professor Gina Ogden. She said "If we just notice what’s around - notice what people are doing and saying and feeling - we can do a better job." That is sage advice for theory construction and verification in community
psychology.

David Glenwick (Fordham University) July 10, 2016

Theories abound in many areas of psychology. By facilitating the organization, systematization, and interpretation of data, theories can contribute greatly to describing, explaining, and predicting various phenomena. The papers by Jason and others will be discussed at a symposium at the APA convention in Denver, and I hope that many are able to attend this session. This symposium will address the role of theory in community psychology. The following are central questions that will be considered by the three presenters and the discussant: (a) Are there any perspectives in community psychology that qualify as a theory or theories? (b) What is the relationship of theory to research, practice, and social action in community psychology? (c) Does theory even warrant having a place in community psychology? The three presenters will provide alternative but complementary perspectives on these questions. The first presentation Len Jason will explore the extent to which current conceptualizations in community psychology qualify as valid theories, The second by Chris Keys will focus on the possible limitations for community psychology of traditional criteria of scientific theories. The third presentation by Chris Beasley will offer a new perspective-- what is termed "third-order change"--as a possible theoretical perspective having much heuristic potential for community psychology. The discussant, Brian Christens will consider the implications of the presentations for the development of the field of community psychology as a scientific discipline and as a locus of social action.The session will occur on Thur, August 4th, from 10-10:50 in the convention center, room 109.
Dave Glenwick