Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-10-04
Psychological Research Center
Near Washington.


Establishment of a national research
center for psychological problems is under
way in or near the District of Columbia.
This was learned yesterday when announc-
ment was made of the incorporation at
Washington Of the National Institute of
Psychology, whose membership includes
many leaders in experimental work.
The institution will be the only one of
its kind in the United States. says Prof
Knight Dunlap, who is one of the incor-
porators Mr.. Dunlap is head Of the psy-
choloey department Of the Johns Hopkins
University and until few weeks ago was
head Of the division of psychology and
anthropology Of the National Research
Council.
Other incorporators are Hugh S Cum
ming, surgeon. general of the United States
Public Health Service. and DR.. Edward E
SloSSon, director of Science Service. The
institution is authorized to promote the
application Of scientific facts and principles
to human and animal life and welfare" Its
organization will be somewhat of private
nature and is not to be under Federal con-
troll.
ut Is proposed" Professor Dunlap said
last night. ito coordinate the psychological
work in the United States in order to pro-
vide facilities for working out problems
which cannot now be investigated thor
oughly.
ut is hoped to provide for the training
Of scientific personnel. and to have a
place where research can be carried out
under relatively permanent direction. which
is at present too lengthy, expensive or
complicated for institutions now available
for research"
The first steps have been taken. it was
said. in getting together an organization.
tbs desirable to locate in or near Wash
ineton, Professor Dunlap said. to give re-
search scientists opportunity to use the
scientific material there-the museum,
libraries and the Federal bureaus. No
overtures have been made to any institu-
tons at the Capital. but Professor Dunlap
said he expected to be able to cooperate
with the universities. the Washington Child
Research Center. which is studying funda-
mental problems of child behavior. and the
St. Elizabeth's Hospital. which always has
opportunities for investigating abnormal
behavior
THE day of isolated experiment and
fragmentary problems is passing. Professor
Dunlap said. Unless we find means Of
shaping our problems into coherent plans
Of larger unity. unless we find means of
carrying out vital research and postponing
the merely interesting. and unless we can
pool our constructive and critical abilities.
we shall be out OF step with the advance of
scientific method.
in the actual operation of the proposed
research center, what we have principally
in view is to provide meeting ground for
the different methods OF Investigation. from
which il is hoped to gain comprehensive
and organic unity.
THE actual goal is more of an integra-
ton Of method than Of theory"
Professor Dunlap referred to biological
laboratory at Woods Hole. Mass, where
several hundred graduate students and re-
search workers gather every summer. a
a somewhat analogous institution. though
on less comprehensive scale. he suggested.
Little unity can be expected. he said,
from merely getting together once in a year
and talking things over. There must be
cooperate experimental work, which can
be subject to criticism while in progress
instead of afterwards and which can assure
greater certainty as to conditions.
Each person chosen for active member
ship must have proved his ability to do
original research. When an active member
reaches the age of so he will be automati-
cally retired to honorary membership,