Ohio State psychology professor Jolynn Pek has been appointed as President of American Psychological Association (APA) Division 5: Quantitative and Qualitative Methods. 

As president, she will oversee the division’s strategic goals through August 2026. The approximately 1500 members of Division 5 specialize in the methodology of psychological science, focusing on the development and application of both qualitative and quantitative tools, as well as the reasoning behind their use. 

“While methods often focus on tool development or the ‘what’ used to forward psychological science, methodology delves into the ‘how’ and ‘why,’” Pek said, emphasizing the distinction.

“Prioritizing methodology over method is essential to enhance the rigor and impact of psychological science.”

Division 5 is one of 56 divisions in the American Psychological Association, the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the US. The APA’s 172,000 members span multiple psychological fields, from clinical and developmental psychology to psychoanalysis and beyond.

Pek assumes leadership of Division 5 at a time when artificial intelligence is poised to transform psychological science. This is also a pivotal moment for quantitative and qualitative psychologists, who are uniquely positioned to advance both the science and practice of AI-enabled methodology, she noted.

“Important conversations are also needed to address the logical and ethical limits of AI use in psychological science and research,” she said. 

Pek anticipates that these will be some of the defining issues of her APA presidency.

“Looking into the year ahead, Division 5 will focus on the transformative intersection of artificial intelligence and psychological science, particularly for advancing the field of methodology,” she said.

Pek’s journey in Division 5 began when she supported former division president Debbi Bandalos as program cochair for the APA Convention in 2023, along with Wes Bonifay. That experience deepened her appreciation for the division, its diversity of research interests and its commitment to psychological methodology, she said. She has been affiliated with the APA since the early 2000s.

Pek is also the coordinator of the Department of Psychology’s doctoral program in quantitative psychology, a position she has held since 2020.