Library and Information Science

The failure in actual implementation by the American Psychological Association’s National Information System for Psychology (NISP) was examined and analysed.

The NISP was proposed by the Association based on the results obtained from a series of studies on information flow in the field of psychology. These studies were conducted by the Association in 1960’s.

The NISP was composed of three categories: (1) bibliographic products and services, (2) primary publication system, (3) support to informal communication.

The degree of implementation of the planned services in each category was examined by studying Psychological Abstracts and other related literatures, and by sending a letter directly to the planner of NISP to clarify some uncertain points.

The proposed services in the category of bibliographic products and services were successfuly implemented. However the development of the services in other two categories was not realized except the introduction of the Journal Supplement Abstract Service (JSAS) as a substitute to the Experimental Publication System (EPS) in the category of primary publication system.

The controversy that developed around NISP and its components, especially the EPS became so great that it was impossible to follow the original NISP plan.

The author concluded that the NISP approach itself should be highly appraised for its efforts to improve the scientific communication system on a comprehensive basis, and the failure of the NISP was absolutely caused by the absence of the quality control system in EPS which was originally intended to enhance the communication among psychologists.