A decolonial and liberation lens to social justice research

Upholding promises for diverse, inclusive, and equitable psychological science

Bibliographic Data

ID13349831
AuthorsLuz M Garcini (0000-0002-3834-9107, Public Policy Institute of California, corresponding author), Aldo M Barrita (0000-0002-6596-1078, University of Nevada, Las Vegas), Germán A Cadenas (0000-0001-6661-496X, Rutgers Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights), Melanie M Domenech Rodríguez (0000-0002-6610-6890, Utah State University), Thania Galvan (0000-0001-5355-3213, University of Georgia), Alfonso Mercado (0000-0002-3127-9724, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), Oswaldo Moreno (0000-0002-6102-1644, Virginia Commonwealth University), Manuel Paris (0000-0002-4658-9936, Yale University), Oscar F Rojas Pérez (0000-0002-5754-5250, Yale University), Michelle Alejandra Silva (0000-0003-4036-2279, Yale University), Amanda Venta (0000-0002-1641-123X, University of Houston)
Year2023
Volume80
Issue1
Pages1-14
Publication date2023-12-21
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Psychologist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-066X • E-ISSN: 1935-990X
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/amp0001255
PMID38127489
OpenAlexW4390061160
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited12

In the face of harmful disparities and inequities, it is crucial for researchers to critically reflect on methodologies and research practices that can dismantle systems of oppression, accommodate pluralistic realities, and facilitate opportunities for all communities to thrive. Historically, knowledge production for the sciences has followed a colonial and colonizing approach that continues to silence and decontextualize the lived experiences of people of color. This article acknowledges the harm to people of color communities in the name of research and draws from decolonial and liberation frameworks to advance research practices and psychological science toward equity and social justice. In this article, we propose a lens rooted in decolonial and liberatory principles that researchers can use to rethink and guide their scientific endeavors and collaborations toward more ethical, equitable, inclusive, respectful, and pluralistic research practices. The proposed lens draws on literature from community psychology and our lessons learned from field studies with historically marginalized Latinx communities to highlight six interrelated tensions that are important to address in psychological research from a decolonizing and liberatory lens. These interrelated tensions involve conflicting issues of (a) power, (b) competence, (c) practices and theories, (d) rationale, (e) approach, and (f) trust. In addition, seven practical recommendations and examples for decolonial and liberatory research practices are outlined. The recommendations can assist researchers in identifying ways to ameliorate and address the interrelated tensions to give way to decolonial and liberatory research practices. Community and social justice scientists have the responsibility to decommission oppressive research practices and engage in decolonization and liberation toward a valid, ethical, equitable, and inclusive psychological science. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)

Engineering ethics · Environmental ethics · Oppression · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Community Health and Development · Law

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