review · Communications Psychology
Recent advances in psychology have transformed open science practices, but integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion remains limited. Current research risks rely on questionable generalisability practices and the making of assumptions based on skewed knowledge, known as MASKing. Promoting global equity in knowledge production requires more responsible habits around co-authorship and the generalisation of findings. Reform demands interventions across four distinct stages of the scientific process: research design, reporting, generalisation, and evaluation. Furthermore, structural change must address macro-level geopolitical factors to build a robust behavioural science. Achieving true inclusion requires ensuring that scientific inquiry properly represents the voices, perspectives, and lived experiences of the majority world, specifically populations within low- and middle-income countries.
Scientific findings often claim universal relevance while overlooking global diversity. When studies base broad conclusions on narrow samples or exclude researchers from low- and middle-income nations, the resulting knowledge is skewed. Addressing these practices ensures behavioural research genuinely reflects the majority of the world, leading to more reliable, equitable, and globally relevant scientific understanding.
The abstract does not indicate an application pathway, as it focuses entirely on academic methodology, scientific reporting, and research equity policies rather than commercial technologies or marketable products.
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The field of psychology has rapidly transformed its open science practices in recent years. Yet there has been limited progress in integrating principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. In this Perspective, we raise the spectre of Questionable Generalisability Practices and the issue of MASKing (Making Assumptions based on Skewed Knowledge), calling for more responsible practices in generalising study findings and co-authorship to promote global equity in knowledge production. To drive change, researchers must target all four key components of the research process: design, reporting, generalisation, and evaluation. Additionally, macro-level geopolitical factors must be considered to move towards a robust behavioural science that is truly inclusive, representing the voices and experiences of the majority world (i.e., low-and-middle-income countries).
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DOI: 10.1038/s44271-024-00179-1
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