Yale University Seymour Sarason

1 yale university

1.1 intellectual disability
1.2 teacher preparation , school reform
1.3 test anxiety , situational factors affecting test performance
1.4 yale psycho-educational clinic

yale university

in 1945, carl hovland, chair of department of psychology @ yale, offered sarason assistant clinical professor position. in addition teaching clinical courses , supervising clinical students in psychological testing , report writing, sarason published papers on projective techniques during first few years @ yale. although sarason not well-known work on projective techniques, appreciated work because gave him insight how human problem solving adapts based on specific task @ hand.

intellectual disability

based largely on experiences @ southbury training school, sarason published first book in 1949: psychological problems in mental deficiency. book provided new approach intellectual disabilities emphasized social , cultural factors affect our understanding of intellectual disability. book became popular in schools of education, , sarason became well-known in field of education and, more specifically, special education.

teacher preparation , school reform

in 1950s, sarason developed close friendship , working relationship burton blatt, chair of department of special education @ new haven state college. burton blatt interested in working sarason because of sarason’s influential research on intellectual disabilities in field of education. both sarason , blatt interested in preparation of teachers, , believed teachers lacked training in how make educational decisions based on observations of student behavior. highlight concern, sarason, blatt, , researcher (ken davidson) wrote preparation of teachers: unstudied problem in education. book emphasized importance of taking historical , sociological perspective when considering school reforms, such considering history of teacher training programs , how history may impact teachers’ current work.

in 1965, sarason predicted attempts reform schools fail. prediction still has accuracy of 100%. believed schooling needed fundamental changes. further, stated inconceivable think ingrained human social system such public schooling reformed. preparation , training of teachers place begin reform, according sarason.

test anxiety , situational factors affecting test performance

sarason’s research interests in children’s test anxiety developed observations performance of people , without intellectual disabilities on intelligence tests impacted anxiety related testing environment. approximately 15 years, sarason examined how test-taking attitudes , anxiety affect test performance. summarizing of research, sarason wrote clinical interaction describe situational factors in testing environments can lead inaccurate , confusing test results. although sarason’s research considered successful, described work “research factory” , frustrated lack of socially-relevant action based on research (e.g., frustrated research did not lead programs children experienced high test anxiety).

yale psycho-educational clinic

sarason frustrated lack of social action in research career, , seized opportunity start new clinic @ yale university more involved in making positive social change. in late 1950s sarason supervisor of 2 clinical psychology interns worked @ yale child study center, child psychiatry organization. because there lack of clients available supervisees @ yale child study center, sarason decided start psychology clinic within yale department of psychology after gaining approval chair of department, claude buxton. in 1960s sarason founded yale psycho-educational clinic. although clients did visit clinic psychotherapy , clinical assessments, clinic unique in of clinic staff spent majority of time in community settings working directly community organizations. clinic aimed expand role of clinical psychologists include working in community settings , helping solve community-based problems. through work in clinic, sarason sought better understand creation , sustainability of settings. defined settings “any instance in 2 or more people come in new relationships on sustained period of time in order achieve goals.”

the history of yale psycho-educational clinic can separated 2 time periods. during first time period 1963 1965, sarason , colleagues aimed gain entrance various settings partnering organizations, including public schools, anti-poverty programs, , center intellectually disabled people. during second time period 1965 1973, sarason , clinic staff focused on studying how settings created , factors influenced longevity. sarason’s main method of investigation involved him acting participant-observer collaborated various organizations solve problems (e.g., low student academic performance, low recruitment anti-poverty programs). based on work, sarason argued clinical psychologists should expand individual-based focus , consider how broader settings contribute both well-being , pathology. argued changing , reforming settings requires deep understanding of settings. finally, sarason identified several issues relevant creation , sustainability of settings, such having positive external relationships other people , organizations, having strong leadership @ organizational level, , maintaining realistic expectations organization’s needs , influence. sararson s , colleagues’ work @ clinic resulted in 7 books , many articles.