| Description | Audio cassette sound recording of an interview with Professor Derek E. Blackman (1941-), FBPsS, CPsychol. British Psychological Society President 1981-1982 for the British Psychological Society's Oral History project.
The interview was conducted by Barbara Lloyd in 2007
The following summary is by way of introduction to the full recording held at the British Psychological Society's History of psychology Centre, London.
Performers:
Derek Blackman (DB)
Barbara Lloyd (BL)
Side A
c 62 mins
Topics:
BL asks DB to recall any early experiences that predisposed him to a career in psychology
DB speaks of his undergraduate study at Exeter University in the 1960s, his interest in philosophy, the psychological department in Exeter, his course in Exeter and his lecturers Colin Fraser and Bob Brown
DB talks of his post-graduate days at Queen's University Belfast, working with Bob Stretch and George Seth, his PhD research, behaviour experiments and equipment, working with Peter McKeown, Leslie Reid, Derek Hendry, Dick Gilbert, his interest in Skinner and forming the Experimental Analysis of Behaviour Group
DB speaks of his move to Nottingham University as a lecturer, the psychological department at Nottingham and his move to Birmingham University
DB speaks of Peter Broadhurst, Philip Levy, his department at Birmingham and teaching at a summer school in Canada
DB talks of his move to Cardiff University, his views on George Westby, recounts some issues with his Skinnerian approach and initial resistance to change at Cardiff
DB discusses his personality traits, career successes, and diversity of psychological interests
DB talks of his personal life, his marital status at the time and its positive influence on his professional availability
DB speaks of the positive application of his Skinnerian approach and talks of his past history
DB talks of criticism of Skinnerian psychology and attitudes to behaviourism
DB speaks of his experiences as Head of Department at Cardiff, funding issues and exam correlation problems
DB talks of increased attendance at recent Experimental Analysis of Behaviour Group events and young people's interest in Skinnerain cultures
DB speaks of his lecturing experiences at Cardiff, Skinner and behaviourism
DB replies to BL's question to speak of his most important published works and names 'Operant Behaviour' (1974)
Side A ends
Side B
c 13 mins
Topics:
DB continues to speak of his important published works and talks of his papers on behavioural pharmacology
DB talks of levels of research expertise at academic institutions and the introduction of research assessment exercise (RAE)
DB speaks of his leaving Cardiff (early retirement) and move to the Netherlands, his appointment as DG of International Baccalaureate Organisation in Geneva, his move to Hastings in Kent and involvement with local community work in Hastings.
Side B ends....
Total running time: c 75 mins
Summary by Mike Maskill, BPS Archivist. |
| RunTime | On one UR120 cassette, running time c 75 minutes |
| AdminHistory | Date of Birth: 22 December 1941
Place of Birth: London
University Qualifications and Professional Training:
University of Exeter, BA Philosophy & Psychology 1960-1964
Queen's University of Belfast, PhD Experimental Psychology 1964-1966
Other Honours and Awards:
Honorary D.Psicol, Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia, Madrid 1996
BPS Fellow 1974
Professional career:
Queen's University of Belfast, Assistant Lecturer 1965-1966
University of Nottingham, Lecturer 1967-1971
University of Birmingham, Lecturer 1971-1975
University of Birmingham, Senior Lecturer 1975-1976
University College Cardiff, Professor 1976-1998
Cardiff University, Head of Dept. 1976-1985, 1988-1989
International Baccalaureate Organisation, Director General 1998-1999
Involvement with BPS and/or other societies and organisations (selected):
BPS President 1981-1982
Member of BPS Council 1970-1973, 1977-1983, 1991-1995
Member of BPS Finance and General Purposes Committee 1971-1973, 1978-1983
BPS Scientific Affairs Board 1973-1977, 1978-1980, 1982-1986
BPS Professional Affairs Board 1974-1977
Editor, British Journal of Psychology 1983-1989
Experimental Psychology Society, member 1967, member of committee 1968-1971
Experimental Analysis of Behaviour Group, member since 1965, responsible for organising the activities of the Group 1967-1972
American Psychological Association, Foreign Affiliate since 1967
Association for Behavior Analysis International, member since 1985, Coordinator, Special Interest Group in Conceptual and Philosophical Issues, 2000-2003 |