| AdminHistory | In the early 1950's 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 and business management of the journals, and it led to the appointment of a Committee on Publications, which under the new By-Laws became a Standing Committee "which shall be concerned with the general policy, development and co-ordination of the publications of the Society and shall advise and make recommendations to the Council on matters pertaining thereto.'
In 1978 the Society took over publication of its own journals which required required faster decisions making, as well as management and administrative expertise and so a Business SubCommittee was formed. By 1983 three new intersecting Committees was set up under the umbrella of the Standing Committee on Publications
1) Journals Committee - similar in constitution to the Standing Committee, with SEnior Editors of the Society's Journals Advising on Journal Policy and Editorial Considerations
2) Books and Special Projects Group [BPSG] [BPS/002/04/04] - running in parallel with the Journals Committee and considering books and non-book publishing projects.
3) General Coordinating Committee - constituted from members of the other two groups with Special Responsibility for commercial policy and liaison with Council and other Bodies. The general coordinating Committee did not really take off.
In 2001 a new group was founded which took over the Books and Special Projects Group called the Editorial Support Group. |