Diversity Research Article Critique

The lack of diversity in psychology research can cause many problems. Some can be seen in culturally biased aspects of the DSM-5 to research that should only be applied to small population subsets rather than general statements about all individuals. Since much of psychology research aims to make general statements that apply to all individuals and cultures, it is essential to consider diversity when conducting psychological research, including the participants used and research processes.

Complete the Diversity Research Article Critique in which you will critique a research article from a cultural approach. You must use the article that you selected in your Week 1 assignment. Include a full citation for the chosen article.  In the worksheet, consider the following aspects of your selected research article:

Cultural factors that are being studied in the article
Research question(s)
Research methods
Research participants
Research procedures and instrumentation
Intervention processes
Methods for improving the research article to be more culturally diverse, sensitive, and applicable to a broad range of cultures or individuals
Implications of research that is not diverse
Implications of making the research more diverse

Sample Answer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Critique Outline for Cultural Diversity in Research

 

 

Article Citation

 

Provide the full citation for your selected article here.

 

Cultural Factors and Research Questions

 

Cultural factors: What specific cultural variables are the researchers examining or comparing? Do they define culture broadly (e.g., nationality) or specifically (e.g., collectivism vs. individualism)?

Research questions: Are the research questions framed in a culturally sensitive manner? Do they seek to understand cultural differences or to apply a single cultural framework to other populations?

 

Research Methods and Participants

 

Methods: How do the research methods account for cultural variations? Are the methods (e.g., surveys, interviews, experiments) appropriate for the cultures being studied?

Participants: Describe the sample. What is the demographic makeup (e.g., race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, nationality)? Is t

Procedures and Instrumentation

 

Procedures: Were the procedures and instructions adapted for each cultural group? Were they translated and back-translated to ensure accuracy?

Instrumentation: Were the research instruments (e.g., scales, questionnaires) validated for each culture? Is the construct being measured (e.g., depression, self-esteem) understood in the same way across all cultures?

 

Intervention Processes

 

If the study involves an intervention, how was it adapted to be culturally appropriate? Does the intervention rely on assumptions that may not hold true in all cultural contexts?

 

Improving Cultural Diversity and Applicability

 

Suggestions for improvement: How could the research be redesigned to be more inclusive and culturally sensitive? Consider using a mixed-methods approach to gain both quantitative and qualitative insights. Suggest including a more diverse range of participants and collaborating with researchers from the studied cultures.

 

Implications of Diverse and Non-Diverse Research

 

Non-diverse research: What are the consequences of research that lacks diversity? This can lead to misleading generalizations, biased findings, and the development of interventions or treatments that are ineffective or harmful for certain populations. For example, a theory of personality developed on a sample of college students in a Western country may not apply to individuals in a collectivist society.

Diverse research: What are the benefits of making research more diverse? It leads to more accurate and robust findings, promotes social equity, and allows for the development of universally applicable theories and culturally-tailored interventions. This approach can also identify unique cultural strengths and resilience factors that would otherwise be missed.