Standing Committee on Publications and Publications Committee

British Psychological Society Standing Committee on Publications containing minutes, papers, correspondence and publishing material.

1955-1983

3 volumes, 30 files

Deposited in the library at Wellcome Collection by the British Psychological Society in February 2009.

In the early 1950s some members thought that the number and size of the Society's journals should be increased to enable more articles to be published and to reduce delays in publication. Other members wanted a change in the editorial policy of one or more of the journals, especially that of the British Journal of Medical Psychology which seemed to them misguided or unduly exclusive. Others, again, were concerned about the continuing financial loss incurred by the British Journal of Statistical Psychology, which had been founded in 1947.

As a result of this discontent, and in order to investigate and improve the arrangements for all its publications, the Society set up in 1953 an ad hoc Publications Committee, which carefully considered the whole matter and produced in 1954 a detailed report with many recommendations. This report led to considerable discussion at meetings of the Council, Medical Section and the whole Society; it brought about some important changes in the editorial control.

Compiled by the Cataloguing Project Archivist at the British Psychological Society History of Psychology Centre, with minor editing by Wellcome staff.