Dismantling Racism in Research Methods and Practices

Abstract

Dismantling racism in American psychology has recently emerged as a critical goal of the field accompanied by actionable steps being developed in training, research, and practice. To contribute to this significant undertaking, we offer an exploration of the impact of racism on psychological research methods and practices using the ABC model. First, antecedents to the present manifestation of the problem are identified as an advancement of research topics that supported a hereditary hierarchy based on race, the normalization of White participants as standard in comparative studies, and the use of biased measures to investigate various constructs, particularly as it relates to psychological testing. Second, sampling bias is discussed as a systemic behavior that produces racism in psychological research methods; specifically, issues of omission and commission are described along with the use of WEIRD samples and the role of implicit bias in the limited production of knowledge on people of color. Third, the antecedents and behaviors give way to consequences that include threats to cultural validity, unequal treatment and health disparities, and epistemic oppression in the field. We end with recommendations for avoiding a continuation of the field’s racist legacy in present-day psychology.