A decolonial and liberation lens to social justice research: Upholding promises for diverse, inclusive, and equitable psychological science.
Luz M Garcini, Aldo Barrita, Germán A Cadenas, Melanie M Domenech Rodríguez, Thania Galvan, Alfonso Mercado, Oswaldo Moreno, Manuel Paris, Oscar F Rojas Perez, Michelle Silva, Amanda Venta
Author Information
Luz M Garcini: Department of Psychological Sciences, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University. ORCID
Aldo Barrita: Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. ORCID
Germán A Cadenas: School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University. ORCID
Melanie M Domenech Rodríguez: Department of Psychology, Utah State University. ORCID
Thania Galvan: Department of Psychology, University of Georgia. ORCID
Alfonso Mercado: Department of Psychological Science, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. ORCID
Oswaldo Moreno: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University. ORCID
Manuel Paris: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine. ORCID
Oscar F Rojas Perez: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine. ORCID
Michelle Silva: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine. ORCID
Amanda Venta: Department of Psychology, University of Houston. ORCID
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).
