This book provides an overview of the research related to psychological assessment across South Africa. The thirty-six chapters provide a combination of psychometric theory and practical assessment applications in order to combine the currently disparate research that has been conducted locally in this field. Existing South African texts on psychological assessment are predominantly academic textbooks that explain psychometric theory and provide brief descriptions of a few testing instruments. Psychological Assessment in South Africa provides in-depth coverage of a range of areas within the broad field of psychological assessment, including research conducted with various psychological instruments. The chapters critically interrogate the current Eurocentric and Western cultural hegemonic practices that dominate the field of psychological assessment. The book therefore has the potential to function both as an academic text for graduate students, as well as a specialist resource for professionals, including psychologists, psychometrists, remedial teachers and human resource practitioners.

Social science researchers in the global South, and in South Africa particularly, utilise research methods in innovative ways in order to respond to contexts characterised by diversity, racial and political tensions, socioeconomic disparities and gender inequalities. These methods often remain undocumented – a gap that this book starts to address.

Written by experts from various methodological fields, Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences is a comprehensive collation of original essays and cutting-edge research that demonstrates the variety of novel techniques and research methods available to researchers responding to these context-bound issues. It is particularly relevant for study and research in the fields of applied psychology, sociology, ethnography, biography and anthropology. In addition to their unique combination of conceptual and application issues, the chapters also include discussions on ethical considerations relevant to the method in similar global South contexts.

Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences has much to offer to researchers, professionals and others involved in social science research both locally and internationally.

Psychology Research Methods is a foundational textbook designed for undergraduate and graduate psychology students studying research methodology. The book introduces the theory and practice of research methods in psychology, addressing primarily quantitative and qualitative approaches.

A unique feature of the text is its emphasis on the way in which social science researchers can utilise research methods to respond to contexts characterised by power imbalances, socio-economic disparities, and other inequalities. It frames research as a socially situated process that acknowledges the perspectives of the researched communities.

Ethical considerations are interwoven throughout the text, framing ethicality as a core aspect of both the researcher’s identity and the broader knowledge-production process. This ethical grounding reinforces the book’s commitment to social justice and its vision of research as a tool for meaningful societal transformation.

Case studies and practical exercises give students a feel for what real research is and illustrate how traditional methods can be creatively transformed to become more African-centred. This develops students’ critical thinking skills preparing them to identify, select, and apply contextually relevant methods to solve real-world problems. Students are encouraged to reflect on research methods, i.e., on what they are doing and why, rather than uncritically consume theory and processes.

The book provides a contextual way of utilising research methods to conduct socially relevant research in South Africa, which could extend across global contexts.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1. Contextualising the research process and practice.
Chapter 2. How do we know what we know?
Chapter 3. Research ethics in context: Toward a decolonial approach to ethicality.
Chapter 4. What to research: Formulating questions and assumptions.
Chapter 5. Establishing a blue print: Research design for quantitative research.
Chapter 6. Research design for qualitative and mixed methods.
Chapter 7. The ‘who’ in psychological research: Choosing your sample.
Chapter 8. Data collection methods: Surveys and measurement.
Chapter 9. Applying psychometric principles to measures.
Chapter 10. Data collection methods in qualitative research.
Chapter 11. Data collection using AI, social media, and technological tools.
Chapter 12. Establishing rigour in quantitative and qualitative research.
Chapter 13. Quantitative data analysis: Preparing data and descriptive statistical analysis.
Chapter 14. Quantitative data analysis: Inferential data analysis.
Chapter 15. Analysing qualitative data.
Chapter 16. Final steps: Writing up your research.

Appendix: Research in context: Participatory Action Research and co-design.
 

To look forward, it is necessary to look back and learn. History is more than just facts about the past; it is a narrative told from a particular perspective. A proverb from Africa, 'Until lions have their own historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter,' captures this best. Most of the scholarship about psychological assessment comes from very specific nationalities and cultures, which does not truly reflect the diversity and breadth of histories pertaining to the field. Covering 50 countries, this collection gives voice to those that have previously been under represented and sometimes marginalized. This book not only describes important moments in psychological assessment from around the globe, but also equips readers with the tools to map the future of psychological assessment across nations. It advocates for a more globally inclusive science of assessment that holds promise for enhancing creativity and innovation in the field.

To look forward, it is necessary to look back and learn. History is more than just facts about the past; it is a narrative told from a particular perspective. A proverb from Africa, 'Until lions have their own historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter,' captures this best. Most of the scholarship about psychological assessment comes from very specific nationalities and cultures, which does not truly reflect the diversity and breadth of histories pertaining to the field. Covering 50 countries, this collection gives voice to those that have previously been under represented and sometimes marginalized. This book not only describes important moments in psychological assessment from around the globe, but also equips readers with the tools to map the future of psychological assessment across nations. It advocates for a more globally inclusive science of assessment that holds promise for enhancing creativity and innovation in the field.