Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-27
BUREAU OF PSYCHOLOGICAL
STANDARDS PLANNED HERE
Fifty of Foremost American
Experimental Workers
Members of Group.
Permanent Laboratories to
Undertake Lengthy Problems
Idea of Incorporators.

The first step toward establishment
In Washington of a national research
center for problems in human and ami
may psychology, comparable in some
ways to the Bureau of Standards, has
been taken by the incorporation here
OF the National Institute of Psychology,
whose membership includes so Of the
foremost American experimental pSy-
biologists.
The incorporators are Prof. Knight
Dunlap, head of the psychology depart
ment Of Johns Hopkins University and
until few weeks ago of the division
Of Psychology and anthropology of the
National Research Council: DR.. Hugh
s. Cumming, surgeon general of the
United States Public Health Service,
and Dr. Edwin z. Slosson. The charter
authorizes 1t to promote the applica-
ton Of scientific facts and principles
to human and animal life and welfare"
The intent, as described by Prof.
Dunlap. is to found "a national psy-
Geological laboratory, similar in some
OF its functions to the Bureau of
Standards, but not under Federal con-
troll. Such a laboratory can be under
relatively permanent director and
can undertake programs of research
too lengthy, expensive and complicated
49, ~NN@S~
Cooperative Results.
I'm such a laboratory truly co-opera-
tive results of the highest value can be
obtained. Men working in other lab
oratories on details Of the problems un-
dertaken In the national laboratory
could arrange to transfer their work
tnere during leave Of absence, or in
Summers.
Work done here can be subjected to
criticism while in progress. instead of
afterward. and the cooperative method
can insure greater certainty as to con-
ditionS. Such a national laboratory will
be of really inestimable advantage to
psychology, not only because Of its
availability for the solution of problems
unwieldy elsewhere, but because stand
ards Of research may be elevated"
Careful Site Selection.
The selection of a site in Washing
ton or its environs, Prof. Dunlap said,
must be undertaken with great care.
The laboratories must be in some place
free from the noise, vibrations and
electrical disturbances Of the city be-
cause OF the extreme delicacy Of the
instruments used in some experiments.
The institute wants to locate in
Washington, Prof. Dunlap said, because
the National Capital is close to the
geographic center of scientific America
ana because OF the exceptional facilities
for research here. The services of the
Bureau of Standards In celebrating in
struments and advising on fine meas
urlng devices and of the Library of
Congress with its scientific literature,
he said, would be of great value.
1t Is also hoped to work in co-opera-
ton with the local universities, the
Washington Child Research Center.
which Is engaged in studying funda-
mental problems of child behavior. and
st. Elizabeth's Hospital with its in
vestigations of abnormal behavior con-
stantly in progress. The availability
OF such an institution as Johns Hop
k1ns University Hospital in Baltimore.
DR.. Dunlap said. also will be an I'M
portant consideration.
Financial Plans Incomplete.
Financial plans still are INCOMPLETE.
The first step will be for the members
of the institute to agree upon a plan
OF cooperative research. The institute
win start with the following active
members. all Of national Scientific
reputation: John E. Anderson. Min
nesota; Madison Bentley. Cornell; e. G.
Boring, Harvard Warner Brown, Cali
fornia: Harvey A. Carr. Chicago: Percy
w. Cobb. Cleveland:.J. E. Coover, Stan
ford; K. M. Dallenbach. Cornell: ]. F.
Dashiell. North Carolina; r. c.
Dockeray, Ohio Wesleyan; Raymond
Dodge, Yale: Knight Dunlap. Johns
Hopkins: Franklin Fearing, Northwest
ern; s. W. Fernberger. Pennsylvania;
worth, Columbia: Clark Hull. wis
consin; H. M. johnson, Mellon In
stitute; K. S. Lashley. Institute for
Juvenile Research, Chicago: Walter
Miles. Stanford; H. S. Langfeld, Prince
ton; Joseph Peterson. Nashville; Rudolf
Pintner. Columbia; A. T. Poffenberger,
Columbia; e. s. Robinson. Yale; Calvin
P. Stone. Stanford; Margaret r. WASH
burn, Vassar; A. P. Weiss, Ohio State;
Frederick L. Wells. Boston Psychopathic
Hospital; Herbert Woodrow. Oklahoma:
r. S. Woodwork, Columbia, and Robert
Yerkes, Yale.
Honorary Members Named.
The following were made honorary
members of the National Institute of
Psychology: w. d. Scott Northwestern;
G. M. Stratton, California; c. e. Sea-
shore, Iowa; L. Wilmer, Pennsylvania,
and Eleanor A. Gamble, Wellesley.
The ne day Of the isolated te,s sxper II
ing" Prof, 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 the scientific method"
The science of psychology, 1t was
pointed out, now Is passing through
phase where there are several divergent
schools. each devoted to its own the
cries Of mental phenomena, and making
little effort to find a common ground.
The proposed institute would afford
meeting ground for workers In ali OF
these fields.
'". Similar Institution.
A somewhat analogous institution, DIR.
Dunlap pointed out, is the biological
laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass, where
several hundred graduate students and
research workers come together every
Summer. Little unity can be expected,
1t was said, from merely getting to-
Rether once a year and talking things
over. as is the present practice. There
must be actual cooperative expert
mental work.
Each person chosen for active men,
bershlp in the institute must have
proved his ability to do original re-
search by himself, said DR.. Dunlap.
Merely teaching psychology or directing
the work of others will not make man
eligible. When an active member
reaches the age of go, he will be auto
matically retired to honorary member