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Diversifying collaboration networks to increase equity in psychology

Nature Reviews Psychology volume 1, pages 9–10 (2022)Cite this article

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Insular collaboration networks contribute to inequities in academic psychology by concentrating resources and reputation among members of majority groups. By actively diversifying their networks, researchers can improve their science and reduce inequity.

There is a leaky pipeline in psychological science: fewer women than men and fewer Black than white individuals advance beyond early career stages. As of 2018, women made up more than 70% of psychology doctorate degree recipients, and yet only 44% of authors of psychology articles1 and about 50% of tenured psychology faculty were women2. There is also a publication gap for minoritized individuals, based on race3 and disability status, and at the intersection of identities4,5. The causes of this inequitable representation in academic psychology are multi-faceted and hotly debated6.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks D. Vuvan for feedback on a previous version of this manuscript.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, USA

    Erica Hsiung Wojcik

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  1. Erica Hsiung Wojcik
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Correspondence to Erica Hsiung Wojcik.

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Wojcik, E.H. Diversifying collaboration networks to increase equity in psychology. Nat Rev Psychol 1, 9–10 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-021-00014-y

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