Professional Knowledge and Abilities the American Psychological

Professional Knowledge and Abilities

The American Psychological Association (APA) is a pivotal organization within the discipline of psychology. The influence of the APA on questions of standards and professionalism is unquestioned. A demonstration of this influence is the use of the APA standard for presenting papers and research work. Thus, the APA is the guardian for quality and integrity in the psychological landscape in America and much of the world.

The APA has very specific organizational purposes and attempts to stay within the parameters of its organizational purposes. The main purpose of the APA is the advance of "psychology as a science, a profession and as a means of promoting health, education, and human welfare" (American Psychological Association, 2011). This purpose is achieved through the publication of journals, the establishing of best practices, the improvement of research approaches in psychology, and the real life application of research findings. The improvement of qualifications and the sharing of knowledge is also a central aspect of the APA's work.

The broad scope of the APA's work and influence will readily enhance any professional who makes active use of the services that are provided. The strong direction toward the sharing of knowledge through conferences, discussions, journals and other media ensures that professional knowledge is constantly improving. Because ongoing research continuously tests assumptions about care and theory and in so doing will create new vistas of enquiry as well as remove outmoded ways of thinking. In addition to this prospect, the organized dissemination of the information makes it readily accessible to professionals who can utilize the information in their private practice or other spheres of influence.

Another useful aspect of the APA's work is the determination of standards for professionals in the field. These standards encompass not only therapeutic dynamics but they also cover research and ethical concerns. The implementation of standards is a vital cog in the development of any discipline. The standards ensure that persons who are certified have met and surpassed minimum quality indicators. This gives confidence to persons seeking care or simply reading an article. Standards are often a proxy for quality; the professionals who have met the standards are assumed to be of a particular quality. This also inherently limits the growth of pretenders who bring the profession into disrepute by their heinous actions.

Success in any profession is not a static entity. The successful professional is continuously growing and developing. There is the need to have access to innovative information and techniques. The active distribution of reputable research meets this need in two ways; firstly, the continuous research drives the frontiers of knowledge forward. As this moves forward and innovation takes hold the entire profession is advanced. Secondly, personal growth requires that if you are not researching, you should at least be consuming research regularly. Thus, learning opportunities such as conferences and training programs create the climate for perpetual growth and development. This is important because the opportunity is the product of the corporate action rather than individual behavior. In so doing, resources and ideas are developed that the individual would be hard pressed to accomplish alone.