44.030 - How Can Educational Psychology Become More Culturally Relevant? Reimaging Traditional Educational Psychology Concepts

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

Although psychological research in education has attempted to engage systemic inequity in education among children of color, it has done so without a true acknowledgement of the importance of race and culture in its research designs and interpretations. Inspired by DeCuir-Gunby and Schutz’s (2014) recommendations to reimage race for educational psychology constructs, this invited session portrays the work of four young scholars who do exactly that. These researchers grapple with the tensions of remaining true to a psychological lens while also deeply considering race and culture. They model race and culture as complex sociohistorical constructs, beyond just moderators or control variables. They provide specific examples of concepts (e.g., school belonging, achievement motivation) they have race reimaged, along with methodological recommendations.

Sub Unit

• Division C - Learning and Instruction / Division C - Learning and Instructions

Chair

• Jamaal Matthews, Montclair State University

Participants

• William Perez, Claremont University - Claremont Graduate University

• DeLeon Lavron Gray, North Carolina State University

• Idalis Villanueva, Utah State University

Presenter

• Francesca Lopez, The University of Arizona

Discussant

• Jessica T. Decuir-Gunby, North Carolina State University