Centering Majority World Research in Developmental Science
Chair(s): Peter Titzmann (Leibniz University Hannover)
Child development research from the Majority World (Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean), where 85% of the world’s population resides continues to be highly underrepresented in our published scholarship. Journal analyses demonstrate the continued dominance of the Minority World (North America, Western Europe, Oceania) in developmental science journals (Moriguchi, 2022; Nielsen et al., 2017), with research from Majority World progressing on the margins. Although not home to a majority of the global population, Eastern and Central Europe also tend to be underrepresented in published research in developmental science. Despite the well-recognized need for inclusivity to ensure a theoretically comprehensive and globally applicable developmental science, little progress has been made over the past two decades in addressing this underrepresentation. Colonial roots of our science in the Minority World contribute to the dominance of Minority World samples, researchers, theoretical frameworks, and methods. It is important to confront this dominance and create space at the center for Majority World research.
The first paper in this symposium discusses the drivers and consequences of underrepresentation of research from Majority World, along with survey findings regarding challenges researchers experience in publishing research with Majority World communities (Raval et al., 2024). Based on the recommendations, the second paper discusses concrete ways in which researchers from Minority World and Majority World can help promote globally relevant science. The third paper discusses concrete ways in which reviewers and editors of peer-reviewed journals, and program officers and panel reviewers of funding agencies can help promote a globally relevant science. Our overarching goal is to facilitate Majority World child development research to reduce barriers to publishing this work. We will invite a conversation with the audience on ways to center Majority World perspectives, enable research with Majority World communities and its dissemination, and support Majority World scholars.
Presentations of the Symposium
Majority World Developmental Science Research: Challenges and Recommendations
Vaishali V. Raval, Philip Baiden, Graciela Espinosa-Hernandez, Lucia Magis-Weinberg, Amanda Nguyen, Peter Titzmann, Yao Zhang
Miami University
Vaishali V. Raval, Philip Baiden, Graciela Espinosa-Hernandez, Lucia Magis-Weinberg, Amanda Nguyen, Peter Titzmann, & Yao Zhang
For over two decades, psychological science has recognized its narrow focus on White, Middle-class populations residing in Minority World (North America, Europe, and Oceania), with journal analyses documenting substantial underrepresentation of communities from regions where the majority of the world’s population resides (Africa, Asia, Latin America). Although subfields of psychology including developmental science have made progress, statistics regarding representation of Majority World authors and samples in English-language peer-reviewed journals have not considerably changed. Anecdotally, researchers who engage in research with Majority World populations have reported numerous barriers to conducting their research and publishing in English-language peer-reviewed journals, though no systematic efforts have explored these challenges. In this presentation, we will describe the results from a survey of social science researchers who engage in research with Majority World populations (Raval et al., 2024). Specifically, we will describe key challenges to engaging in and publishing Majority World research and outline recommendations to promote global science.
What can authors do to center Majority World research in Developmental Science?
Shanu Shukla1, Graciela Espinosa- Hernández2, Vaishali V. Raval2
1TBC, 2Miami University
Researchers from both Minority and Majority World can play a key role in centering Majority World developmental science. There have been calls for Minority World researchers to create space for Majority World science (Corral-Frías et al., 2023) and for Majority World researchers to take center stage (Abubaker et al., 2024). Based on our survey findings (Raval et al., 2024) and other literature on promoting global developmental science, in this presentation, we will discuss what you can do as a researcher in the Minority World to help center Majority World research. This would include situating your research with Minority World samples within local contexts and sample demographics, and acknowledging constraints on generality. To specifically promote Majority World science, we will discuss the ways in which you can engage in equitable and mutually beneficial collaborations with Majority World researchers. For Majority World researchers, we will discuss ways to engage in contextually grounded and culturally sensitive research that has relevance to the communities being studied using methods that are most appropriate. We will also discuss ways to navigate the publication process.
What can reviewers and editors do to center the Majority World research in Developmental Science?
Graciela Espinosa- Hernández, Shanu Shukla, Vaishali V. Raval
Miami University
To center Majority World developmental science research, the culture of peer-review needs to substantially change (Aly et al., 2023). Editors and reviewers play a critical gate-keeping role in the peer-review and publication process. Studies have shown a persistent bias in academic publishing, both regarding the topics that are published and the individuals whose work is published (Raval et al., 2024; Roberts et al., 2020; Settles et al., 2021). Various forms of individual and systemic bias have been identified that influence the peer-review process (Aly et al., 2023). Based on the emerging literature on promoting global developmental science, in this presentation, we will discuss the ways in which Minority World reviewers can provide contextually relevant reviews of manuscripts reporting on child development research about the Majority World. Engaging the audience, we will discuss specific examples and ways to identify bias, monitor and minimize it, and enhance the quality of the reviews provided. We will discuss the ways in which action editors can engage in the editorial decision-making process from soliciting reviews to making a decision to ensure that contextually relevant feedback is provided. In addition, recommendations such as broadening the journal’s aims and scope to include Global science, diversifying the editorial board, and providing resources for Majority World researchers will be discussed.
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