Spotlight Research 3 - Racism and Censorship in the Editorial and Peer Review Process

Saturday, November 18, 2023

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM PST

Location: Skagit (603), Level 6

Earn 1.5 Credit

Keywords: Mental Health Disparities, Underserved Populations, Publishing
Recommended Readings: Roberts, S. O., Bareket-Shavit, C., Dollins, F. A., Goldie, P. D., & Mortenson, E. (2020). Racial inequality in psychological research: Trends of the past and recommendations for the future. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 15(6), 1295-1309. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691620927709, Buchanan, N. T. & Wiklund, L. O. (2020). Why clinical science must change or die: Integrating intersectionality and social justice. Women & Therapy, 43(3-4), 309-329. https://doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2020.1729470, Faber, S., Williams, M. T., Metzger, I. W., MacIntyre, M. M., Strauss, D., Duniya, C. G., Sawyer, K., Cénat, J. M., & Goghari, V. (in press). Lions at the gate: How weaponization of policy prevents people of colour from becoming professional psychologists in Canada. Canadian Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000352, ,

Chair(s)

Dana Strauss, B.S.

PhD Student
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Panelist(s)

SG

Sophia Gran-Ruaz, None

student
University of Ottawa
Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
MO

Muna Osman, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral researcher
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Monnica T. Williams, ABPP, Ph.D.

Professor
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
SF

Sonya Faber, Ph.D.

Adjunct Professor
University of Ottawa
Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Psychology aims to capture the diversity of our human experience, yet racial inequity ensures only specific experiences are studied, peer-reviewed, and eventually published. Despite recent publications on racial bias in research topics, study samples, academic teams, and publication trends, bias in the peer review process remains largely unexamined. Drawing on compelling case study examples from APA, ABCT and other leading international journals, this talk proposes key mechanisms underlying racial bias and censorship in the editorial and peer review process, including bias in reviewer selection, devaluing racialized expertise, censorship of critical perspectives, minimal consideration of harm to racialized people, and the publication of unscientific and racist studies. Racial bias and censorship in the publication process has harmful implications for scientific knowledge, and by extension, clinical practice. The field of psychology needs more diverse researchers, clinicians, perspectives, and topics to reach its full potential and meet the mental health needs of communities of colour. Several recommendations are called for to ensure the field can center racial equity throughout the editorial and review process, and clinicians can provide culturally sensitive care.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session, the learner will be able to:

Name the mechanisms contributing to racial bias in the editorial and peer review process.
Identify the ways in which racial bias manifests in the editorial and peer review process.
Explain the impacts of racially biased publication processes for researchers, clinicians, and scientific knowledge.
Implement strategies to address racial bias in the publication process and clinical practice at both individual and institutional levels.
Co-create a more equitable and inclusive field.