Issue 12: The Future's Looking Less WEIRD by Common Thread

WEIRD describes a social science research bias of overgeneralizing findings gathered from research that over-samples subjects who are from Western countries, are Educated and live in Industrialised, Rich, and Democratic societies. People from WEIRD contexts make up about 80% of social science research participants, while only representing 12% of the world's population. Using these findings to speak for people everywhere? Now that's weird.

In this issue of the Stitch, Common Thread's Co-Director Michael Coleman speaks to Dr. Hansika Kapoor and Anirudh Tagat about their experiences as behavioural researchers in India, contributing to a field that’s been WEIRD from inception. As scientists at Mumbai-based research institution Monk Prayogshala, they’ve been hard at work throughout the pandemic, challenging Western findings and offering alternative behavioural interventions rooted in context. Hansika, Anirudh and an increasing number of practitioners like them are seizing this moment to pave a future for BS that’s accessible, collaborative, and a lot less WEIRD.

To access the articles discussed in this episode, visit bit.ly/3iV5wT6

The music featured in this episode is Last Light, Termites, Alternate, and Submersible off of the album Alternate by Xylo-Ziko bit.ly/3zNZJp9