In developmental science, as in many scientific fields, a subset of privileged voices has had a strong influence on the questions that are asked, the methods that are used to answer those questions, and the participants (e.g., cultural background, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, etc.) that are included in research studies.
In the Social Development Lab, we believe that developmental science is strongest when it includes diverse viewpoints and perspectives. As members of the scientific community, we bring varied backgrounds, lived experiences, and viewpoints, and we must work together to achieve the shared goal of creating an inclusive research community where all members are treated with respect and have equitable access to opportunities. In addition, the Social Development Lab is committed to research projects that focus on the experiences of populations that have historically been overlooked in the field of developmental science, including the topics such as aggression in girls as well as experiences of peer stress among ethnic-racial minority youth. We strongly encourage applications to join our team from individuals who share these goals as well as from members of groups whose voices have historically been silenced in developmental science.
Resources
The Director of Clinical Training at UVM, Dr. Matt Price, has compiled resources to support mental health clinicians learn about critical issues related to working with diverse populations.
