representative research Flashcards
changes suggested to authors:
Ginges 2018=
Report sample characteristics: Authors should report key sample characteristics like SES, ethnicity, religion, nationality, age, and gender, or acknowledge if it’s not possible.
Tie findings to the studied population: Findings should only be applied to the specific population studied, not the general population, especially with small sample sizes.
Justify sample population: Authors must justify their chosen sample population, acknowledging any use of convenience sampling and not generalizing to a broader population.
Discuss generalizability: Authors must address how culture and context may affect the generalizability of their findings.
Analyze diversity moderation: Researchers should examine how diversity characteristics (e.g., gender, cultural background) may influence or “moderate” their findings, not just report them.
stats on how representative current literature is to the general population
Rad, Martingano, Ginges, 2018
* in 2008, Arnett (1) showed that 68% of studies in six top American Psychological Association journals relied on samples drawn from the United States and 96% relied on samples drawn from Western industrialized nations
* This means that 96% of these studies attempted to build theory based on empirical observations from participants who come from countries representing a mere 12% of the world’s population
changes suggested by editors and reviewers:
- Suggest they treat non WEIRD samples as a marker of interest and importance of a paper. Diversity should be a good justification to doing a study!
- Could introduce diversity badges, e.g. a paper that includes a study that samples a non western population living in nonindustrialised and nonrich community might receive 3 badges
- They created a goal of 50% of papers should deviate from WEIRD populations- acknowledging that with initial theories, WEIRD and conviencience sampling might have to be used
more on weird
Today, most research published in leading Psychology journals relies on sampling WEIRD populations (Henrich et al. 2010):
WEIRD populations are outliers on many psychological phenomena (Henrich et al., 2010)
Demonstrates a lack of cultural diversity in Psychology research
Validity and generalisability questionable
more on representative research
- Diversify Participant Recruitment
Actively recruit participants from underrepresented regions, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Utilize platforms that allow access to global populations, such as crowdsourcing platforms (e.g., MTurk alternatives in non-WEIRD regions) or international research collaborations. - Expand Recruitment Channels
Partner with community organizations, schools, or local institutions in diverse areas to recruit participants.
Engage in snowball sampling or word-of-mouth recruitment in non-WEIRD communities. - Use Multilingual Materials
Translate surveys, consent forms, and study materials into multiple languages and validate the translations for cultural appropriateness. - Engage in Cross-Cultural Research
Include cross-cultural comparisons by designing studies that involve participants from various countries or cultural groups.
Tailor methodologies to account for cultural differences, such as adjusting tasks to ensure they are culturally relevant and meaningful. - Address Sampling Bias
Use stratified or quota sampling to ensure representation across key demographic variables, such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or geography.
Employ weighting techniques in data analysis to correct for under- or over-representation of certain groups. - Consider Intersectionality
Design research that considers intersecting identities, such as gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, to better understand diverse experiences. - Build Trust with Communities
Work closely with underrepresented communities to understand their needs and perspectives. Building trust can improve participation and ensure the research addresses relevant issues. - Leverage Technology
Use mobile technology and online platforms to reach participants in remote or underserved areas.
Collect data in formats that are accessible, such as voice recordings for participants with low literacy. - Collaborate with Local Researchers
Partner with researchers and institutions in non-WEIRD regions to gain insights into culturally appropriate methodologies and interpretations. - Acknowledge Limitations
Transparently report the cultural or demographic limitations of the sample and discuss how these may impact the generalizability of findings.
APA 7 In-Text Citation Example:
Henrich et al. (2010) highlighted the overrepresentation of WEIRD populations in psychological research, noting that these samples are not representative of humanity as a whole.
The templeton world charity foundation
hihglight how weird samples cannot be representetive, as culture and contexts vary for those not in WEIRD
hihglight the need for imporved funidng in regions and countries where research is low due to funding-
Increase financial support for researchers in non-WEIRD countries to facilitate studies that reflect a broader range of cultural contexts.
Collaborative Research: Encourage partnerships between researchers from diverse backgrounds to enrich perspectives and methodologies.
Inclusive Publication Practices: Promote the dissemination of research findings from underrepresented groups to ensure a more balanced academic discourse.
