Sumaya Laher | University of the Witwatersrand (original) (raw)

Papers by Sumaya Laher

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment futures: Reflections on the next decade of psychological assessment in South Africa

African Journal of Psychological Assessment, 2024

This paper reflects on the past, present, and future of psychological assessment in South Africa,... more This paper reflects on the past, present, and future of psychological assessment in South Africa, marking 30 years since the end of apartheid. It highlights the progress made in addressing historical inequalities perpetuated by psychological testing during apartheid, while acknowledging ongoing challenges. The paper discusses key developments in legislation, policy, and research aimed at making assessments more inclusive and culturally appropriate. It notes the establishment of Assessment Standards South Africa and the growth of the African Journal of Psychological Assessment as important milestones.

Looking ahead, the paper emphasizes several imperatives for the next decade, namely, developing more emic tests and assessment approaches tailored to local populations; focusing on innovative, contextually relevant means of assessment within resource constraints; leveraging technology to enhance assessment processes and accessibility, while addressing ethical concerns and the digital divide; encouraging collaboration among students, researchers, and practitioners to advance the field. The paper concludes with a call for establishing a national center for assessment to coordinate research and dissemination efforts. Additionally, the importance of international collaboration is stressed to ensure African perspectives are centered in global assessment practices.

Research paper thumbnail of Advancing an agenda for psychological assessment in South Africa

SA Journal of Psychology, 2024

Psychological assessment has always been a core part of psychology, but like all other subdiscipl... more Psychological assessment has always been a core part of psychology, but like all other subdisciplines, the applicability of psychological assessments has always been debated. Typically, assessments are developed in the Global North and used in countries across the globe. The universalist assumption and the theories that underpin these assessments has in the last 30 years been challenged. There is an increasing recognition that experiences differ across cultures based on individual and community experiences as well as broader social and political conditions. However, the history of psychological assessment in South Africa is testament not only to a Western psychological import but also to its complicity in upholding an apartheid regime. The 1990s, however, saw profound shifts in psychological assessment in South Africa, but access and distributional challenges have prevailed. Most recently, experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic ensured a hasty transition to online assessments, which provided increased access but perpetuated other inequalities. Reimagining assessment's role is imperative after three decades of democracy. Drawing from peer-reviewed research and personal experiences in assessment, this article provides a historical overview of global and local assessment, highlighting South Africa's journey. It discusses current assessment challenges and progress, emphasizing inclusion, indigenization, and innovation. This article advocates for an agenda prioritizing accessibility, relevance, and responsiveness to societal needs in South African psychological assessment.

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges and Opportunities for Psychological Research in the Majority World

Collabra Psychology, 2024

How can psychology transform itself into an inclusive science that engages with the rich cultural... more How can psychology transform itself into an inclusive science that engages with the rich cultural diversity of humanity? How can we strive towards a broader and deeper understanding of human behavior that is both generalizable across populations and attentive to its diversity? To address these major questions of our field, relying on scholars from different world regions we outline first the opportunities associated with conducting psychological research in these and other majority world regions, highlighting international collaborations . Cross-cutting research themes in psychological research in the majority world are presented along with the urgent need to adopt a more critical lens to research and knowledge production within psychology. Indigenization, critical, transformative and liberatory approaches to understanding psychological phenomena framed within the decolonial imperative are presented as future options for a more diverse and equitable psychological science. Next, we address challenges, including limited institutional research infrastructure, limited national investment in research, political and social challenges these regions face, and the impact of imported (rather than locally produced) psychological knowledge. We conclude by offering recommendations to enable psychological science to be more representative of the world’s population. Our aim is to facilitate a broader, better-informed, and more empathic conversation among psychological scientists worldwide about ways to make psychological science more representative, culturally informed and inclusive.

Research paper thumbnail of Advancing an agenda for psychological assessment in South Africa

Psychological assessment has always been a core part of psychology, but like all other subdiscipl... more Psychological assessment has always been a core part of psychology, but like all other subdisciplines, the applicability of psychological assessments has always been debated. Typically, assessments are developed in the Global North and used in countries across the globe. The universalist assumption and the theories that underpin these assessments has in the last 30 years been challenged. There is an increasing recognition that experiences differ across cultures based on individual and community experiences as well as broader social and political conditions. However, the history of psychological assessment in South Africa is testament not only to a Western psychological import but also to its complicity in upholding an apartheid regime. The 1990s, however, saw profound shifts in psychological assessment in South Africa, but access and distributional challenges have prevailed. Most recently, experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic ensured a hasty transition to online assessments, which provided increased access but perpetuated other inequalities. Reimagining assessment's role is imperative after three decades of democracy. Drawing from peer-reviewed research and personal experiences in assessment, this article provides a historical overview of global and local assessment, highlighting South Africa's journey. It discusses current assessment challenges and progress, emphasizing inclusion, indigenization, and innovation. This article advocates for an agenda prioritizing accessibility, relevance, and responsiveness to societal needs in South African psychological assessment.

Research paper thumbnail of Five or more: Exploring personality structure in South Africa

Research paper thumbnail of South African Muslim Psychologists' Perceptions of Mental Illness

Journal of Psychology in Africa, 2012

This study explored perceptions of mental illness in a sample of 10 female Muslim psychologists i... more This study explored perceptions of mental illness in a sample of 10 female Muslim psychologists in a South African city to determine the influences of religion (and Islam specifically) on their understanding of the aetiology and treatment of mental illness. Participants responded to a semi-structured interview. The data from the interviews were thematically analyzed. Four themes emerged from the analysis: mental illness as maladaptive coping, religion as a resource for wellbeing, influences of personal religiosity on therapy and openness to collaborative treatment

Research paper thumbnail of The Influence of Mode of Test Administration on Test Performance

Journal of Psychology in Africa, 2011

This study examined the influence of mode of test administration (paper based or computer-based) ... more This study examined the influence of mode of test administration (paper based or computer-based) on anxiety levels and test performance. Participants were 44 learners (males = 22, females = 22) from three schools in Johannesburg, South Africa who completed both a computer and paper version of the Differential Aptitude Test—Form K Non-Verbal Reasoning test, the Computer Attitude Scale, the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale and Sarason's Test Anxiety Scale. Test anxiety was significantly related to both computer and paper based testing.

Research paper thumbnail of The NEO-PI-R in South Africa

Wits University Press eBooks, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Looking inward: Reflections on the African Journal of Psychological Assessment and the way forward

African journal of psychological assessment, Dec 15, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Future Directions for Personality Assessment

Manager's professionalism reveals itself in taken decisions, correct goal-directed behavior, and ... more Manager's professionalism reveals itself in taken decisions, correct goal-directed behavior, and high job performance. So met imes successful goal-directed behavior is hindered by inner restrictions and contradictions that are the result of conflicting concepts within hu man consciousness: ideas, beliefs, values or emot ional reactions reinforced by stress situations. So, a successful manager is going to be the one who applies a correct (adequate, appropriate) behavioral, emot ional, or cognitive coping strategy under the circu mstances. The ability to choose and to use the right strategy depends on a manager's personality. This paper focuses on the study of pictopolygraphy as a method of assessment and predict ion of managers' abilities to perform effect ively in a difficult situation.

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring the relationship between religious orientation and the Five Factor Model of personality in a sample of university students

New Voices in Psychology, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Pedi psychologists perceptions of working with mental illness in the Pedi community in Limpopo, South Africa : the need to incorporate indigenous knowledge in diagnosis and treatment

Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Dec 1, 2015

Mental illness is conceptualised differently across cultural and religious groups. Perceptions of... more Mental illness is conceptualised differently across cultural and religious groups. Perceptions of mental illness that are held in communities play a role in the treatment sought and the response to treatment offered. Psychologists from these communities who work in the community are well positioned to provide insight into the perceptions of mental illness as well as the issues involved in working within their communities. A convenience sample of nine Pedi psychologists practising in the Sekhukhune and Capricorn districts of Limpopo, South Africa were interviewed about their work with members of the Pedi community as a means of exploring perceptions of mental illness and its' associated challenges and opportunities in the Pedi community. Semi structured interviews were conducted at the practitioners' rooms with each interview lasting approximately one hour. Thematic analysis of the results revealed four themes. These were: psychologists' perceptions of mental illness; conducting psychotherapy with clients who have spiritual or cultural beliefs of illness; perceptions of mental illness in the Pedi community; and the limited understanding of mental health services in the Pedi community. It is evident from the results that mental illness in the Pedi community is conceptualised differently to mainstream conceptualisations. There is therefore a need for culturally competent practitioners to work in communities holding cultural and religious beliefs in relation to mental illness in order for treatment to be successful. The perceptions of mental illness held by the Pedi community influences the type of treatment sought, with the choice of treatment often being traditional healing. Aside from cultural beliefs which makes traditional healing the first option for treatment, socio economic status and the cost of health care were also highlighted for the preference of traditional healing.

Research paper thumbnail of Editorial: Psychological assessment in Africa: The time is now!

African journal of psychological assessment, Mar 27, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Looking Back, Moving Forward

Cambridge University Press eBooks, Aug 11, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of The role that access and attitudes toward tablets have on learners’ achievement in a Johannesburg school

South African Journal of Education, Aug 31, 2019

One of the central themes across education policies in South Africa is ensuring equal access to e... more One of the central themes across education policies in South Africa is ensuring equal access to education in a context of diminishing resources. The roll-out of technology in schools plays a pivotal role in achieving equity. With the emphasis on technology integration, it is imperative to fully understand the factors that influence this process. Thus, this study investigated the role of access to tablets, and learners' attitudes towards tablets, on learner achievement. A convenience sample of 276 learners from an independent high school in Johannesburg, where tablets were used in the learning environment, completed a cross-sectional survey consisting of a demographics section, a section on access to technology, and a scale on attitudes towards the use of tablets. The results indicate that learner achievement is largely influenced by learner attitudes towards tablets, and in particular, enjoyability of use. Findings provide evidence that tablet provision, while necessary, is not sufficient for the successful integration of tablets and subsequent redress of equality in education in South Africa.

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring the Influence of Educators’ Access to and Attitudes towards Educational technology on the Use of Educational Technology in Johannesburg Schools

Africa Education Review, Jan 22, 2019

the South African White Paper on E-education. Transforming Learning and Teaching through Informat... more the South African White Paper on E-education. Transforming Learning and Teaching through Information and Communication Technologies emphasises the need to integrate educational technology (Et) in classrooms. Yet, the situation in practice indicates that effective integration has not occurred. this article reports on a study that used a quantitative, cross-sectional design to explore the role of educators' access and attitudes towards ET in understanding the use and integration of Et in classrooms. Hence, a convenience sample of 119 educators from schools in Johannesburg, South Africa, completed a questionnaire consisting of a demographics section, the Attitudes towards computer Scale (AtcS), and the Information and communication technology Survey (IctS). the results were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regressions. From the results it was evident that educators had differential access to Et at school and at home. Generally, the educators reported positive attitudes to Et particularly as it pertained to the usefulness of Et in the classroom. Furthermore, the results indicated that educators' access and attitudes significantly predicted their use and integration of Et in classrooms. Differential patterns of use and integration were found across teaching and learning, lesson planning, communication with parents and learners and personal communication. The findings suggest that interventions to improve the uptake of ET should consider access and attitudes as core constructs which influence Et use and integration.

Research paper thumbnail of Religious orientation and personality styles in psychology students

IFE Psychologia: An International Journal, Sep 14, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Editorial: Indigenous Research of Personality From Perspectives of Globalization and Glocalization

Frontiers in Psychology, Apr 26, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of <i>Ostinato rigore</i>: establishing methodological rigour in quantitative research

South African Journal of Psychology, Aug 2, 2016

The last 20 years in South Africa and abroad have evidenced huge changes in the ways in which res... more The last 20 years in South Africa and abroad have evidenced huge changes in the ways in which research is accessed and produced. These changes were facilitated by the rapid developments in technology. Collaborating with researchers across the globe and accessing articles and research can be done at the push of a button and response times are as instantaneous. Conducting and communicating one’s own research are also much easier. This led to a veritable explosion of publishers and journals, some of which are legitimate and others predatory. In this climate, the adage of ‘publish or perish’ has become a lived reality placing increasing pressure on scholars to publish. An unintended consequence of this is the increasing lack of methodological rigour in studies. This article advocates for increasing attention to methodological rigour in quantitative research. In so doing, guidelines and suggestions are provided in terms of elements to be considered within each of the broad aspects of a study, namely, sampling, instrumentation, methods, design, and data analysis. These are drawn from the literature as well as the author’s own experiences in teaching quantitative research methods, supervising postgraduate student research, reviewing articles for local and international journals, as well as experiences of reviewing articles located within the quantitative paradigm as Associate Editor for the South African Journal of Psychology. Ultimately, this article seeks to create awareness among researchers around the necessity for methodologically rigorous research to enhance the quality of outputs. This will have the effect of producing impactful research that can confidently inform policy, practice, and training within the discipline.

Research paper thumbnail of Revised NEO Personality Inventory--Tigrignan Version

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment futures: Reflections on the next decade of psychological assessment in South Africa

African Journal of Psychological Assessment, 2024

This paper reflects on the past, present, and future of psychological assessment in South Africa,... more This paper reflects on the past, present, and future of psychological assessment in South Africa, marking 30 years since the end of apartheid. It highlights the progress made in addressing historical inequalities perpetuated by psychological testing during apartheid, while acknowledging ongoing challenges. The paper discusses key developments in legislation, policy, and research aimed at making assessments more inclusive and culturally appropriate. It notes the establishment of Assessment Standards South Africa and the growth of the African Journal of Psychological Assessment as important milestones.

Looking ahead, the paper emphasizes several imperatives for the next decade, namely, developing more emic tests and assessment approaches tailored to local populations; focusing on innovative, contextually relevant means of assessment within resource constraints; leveraging technology to enhance assessment processes and accessibility, while addressing ethical concerns and the digital divide; encouraging collaboration among students, researchers, and practitioners to advance the field. The paper concludes with a call for establishing a national center for assessment to coordinate research and dissemination efforts. Additionally, the importance of international collaboration is stressed to ensure African perspectives are centered in global assessment practices.

Research paper thumbnail of Advancing an agenda for psychological assessment in South Africa

SA Journal of Psychology, 2024

Psychological assessment has always been a core part of psychology, but like all other subdiscipl... more Psychological assessment has always been a core part of psychology, but like all other subdisciplines, the applicability of psychological assessments has always been debated. Typically, assessments are developed in the Global North and used in countries across the globe. The universalist assumption and the theories that underpin these assessments has in the last 30 years been challenged. There is an increasing recognition that experiences differ across cultures based on individual and community experiences as well as broader social and political conditions. However, the history of psychological assessment in South Africa is testament not only to a Western psychological import but also to its complicity in upholding an apartheid regime. The 1990s, however, saw profound shifts in psychological assessment in South Africa, but access and distributional challenges have prevailed. Most recently, experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic ensured a hasty transition to online assessments, which provided increased access but perpetuated other inequalities. Reimagining assessment's role is imperative after three decades of democracy. Drawing from peer-reviewed research and personal experiences in assessment, this article provides a historical overview of global and local assessment, highlighting South Africa's journey. It discusses current assessment challenges and progress, emphasizing inclusion, indigenization, and innovation. This article advocates for an agenda prioritizing accessibility, relevance, and responsiveness to societal needs in South African psychological assessment.

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges and Opportunities for Psychological Research in the Majority World

Collabra Psychology, 2024

How can psychology transform itself into an inclusive science that engages with the rich cultural... more How can psychology transform itself into an inclusive science that engages with the rich cultural diversity of humanity? How can we strive towards a broader and deeper understanding of human behavior that is both generalizable across populations and attentive to its diversity? To address these major questions of our field, relying on scholars from different world regions we outline first the opportunities associated with conducting psychological research in these and other majority world regions, highlighting international collaborations . Cross-cutting research themes in psychological research in the majority world are presented along with the urgent need to adopt a more critical lens to research and knowledge production within psychology. Indigenization, critical, transformative and liberatory approaches to understanding psychological phenomena framed within the decolonial imperative are presented as future options for a more diverse and equitable psychological science. Next, we address challenges, including limited institutional research infrastructure, limited national investment in research, political and social challenges these regions face, and the impact of imported (rather than locally produced) psychological knowledge. We conclude by offering recommendations to enable psychological science to be more representative of the world’s population. Our aim is to facilitate a broader, better-informed, and more empathic conversation among psychological scientists worldwide about ways to make psychological science more representative, culturally informed and inclusive.

Research paper thumbnail of Advancing an agenda for psychological assessment in South Africa

Psychological assessment has always been a core part of psychology, but like all other subdiscipl... more Psychological assessment has always been a core part of psychology, but like all other subdisciplines, the applicability of psychological assessments has always been debated. Typically, assessments are developed in the Global North and used in countries across the globe. The universalist assumption and the theories that underpin these assessments has in the last 30 years been challenged. There is an increasing recognition that experiences differ across cultures based on individual and community experiences as well as broader social and political conditions. However, the history of psychological assessment in South Africa is testament not only to a Western psychological import but also to its complicity in upholding an apartheid regime. The 1990s, however, saw profound shifts in psychological assessment in South Africa, but access and distributional challenges have prevailed. Most recently, experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic ensured a hasty transition to online assessments, which provided increased access but perpetuated other inequalities. Reimagining assessment's role is imperative after three decades of democracy. Drawing from peer-reviewed research and personal experiences in assessment, this article provides a historical overview of global and local assessment, highlighting South Africa's journey. It discusses current assessment challenges and progress, emphasizing inclusion, indigenization, and innovation. This article advocates for an agenda prioritizing accessibility, relevance, and responsiveness to societal needs in South African psychological assessment.

Research paper thumbnail of Five or more: Exploring personality structure in South Africa

Research paper thumbnail of South African Muslim Psychologists' Perceptions of Mental Illness

Journal of Psychology in Africa, 2012

This study explored perceptions of mental illness in a sample of 10 female Muslim psychologists i... more This study explored perceptions of mental illness in a sample of 10 female Muslim psychologists in a South African city to determine the influences of religion (and Islam specifically) on their understanding of the aetiology and treatment of mental illness. Participants responded to a semi-structured interview. The data from the interviews were thematically analyzed. Four themes emerged from the analysis: mental illness as maladaptive coping, religion as a resource for wellbeing, influences of personal religiosity on therapy and openness to collaborative treatment

Research paper thumbnail of The Influence of Mode of Test Administration on Test Performance

Journal of Psychology in Africa, 2011

This study examined the influence of mode of test administration (paper based or computer-based) ... more This study examined the influence of mode of test administration (paper based or computer-based) on anxiety levels and test performance. Participants were 44 learners (males = 22, females = 22) from three schools in Johannesburg, South Africa who completed both a computer and paper version of the Differential Aptitude Test—Form K Non-Verbal Reasoning test, the Computer Attitude Scale, the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale and Sarason's Test Anxiety Scale. Test anxiety was significantly related to both computer and paper based testing.

Research paper thumbnail of The NEO-PI-R in South Africa

Wits University Press eBooks, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Looking inward: Reflections on the African Journal of Psychological Assessment and the way forward

African journal of psychological assessment, Dec 15, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Future Directions for Personality Assessment

Manager's professionalism reveals itself in taken decisions, correct goal-directed behavior, and ... more Manager's professionalism reveals itself in taken decisions, correct goal-directed behavior, and high job performance. So met imes successful goal-directed behavior is hindered by inner restrictions and contradictions that are the result of conflicting concepts within hu man consciousness: ideas, beliefs, values or emot ional reactions reinforced by stress situations. So, a successful manager is going to be the one who applies a correct (adequate, appropriate) behavioral, emot ional, or cognitive coping strategy under the circu mstances. The ability to choose and to use the right strategy depends on a manager's personality. This paper focuses on the study of pictopolygraphy as a method of assessment and predict ion of managers' abilities to perform effect ively in a difficult situation.

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring the relationship between religious orientation and the Five Factor Model of personality in a sample of university students

New Voices in Psychology, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Pedi psychologists perceptions of working with mental illness in the Pedi community in Limpopo, South Africa : the need to incorporate indigenous knowledge in diagnosis and treatment

Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Dec 1, 2015

Mental illness is conceptualised differently across cultural and religious groups. Perceptions of... more Mental illness is conceptualised differently across cultural and religious groups. Perceptions of mental illness that are held in communities play a role in the treatment sought and the response to treatment offered. Psychologists from these communities who work in the community are well positioned to provide insight into the perceptions of mental illness as well as the issues involved in working within their communities. A convenience sample of nine Pedi psychologists practising in the Sekhukhune and Capricorn districts of Limpopo, South Africa were interviewed about their work with members of the Pedi community as a means of exploring perceptions of mental illness and its' associated challenges and opportunities in the Pedi community. Semi structured interviews were conducted at the practitioners' rooms with each interview lasting approximately one hour. Thematic analysis of the results revealed four themes. These were: psychologists' perceptions of mental illness; conducting psychotherapy with clients who have spiritual or cultural beliefs of illness; perceptions of mental illness in the Pedi community; and the limited understanding of mental health services in the Pedi community. It is evident from the results that mental illness in the Pedi community is conceptualised differently to mainstream conceptualisations. There is therefore a need for culturally competent practitioners to work in communities holding cultural and religious beliefs in relation to mental illness in order for treatment to be successful. The perceptions of mental illness held by the Pedi community influences the type of treatment sought, with the choice of treatment often being traditional healing. Aside from cultural beliefs which makes traditional healing the first option for treatment, socio economic status and the cost of health care were also highlighted for the preference of traditional healing.

Research paper thumbnail of Editorial: Psychological assessment in Africa: The time is now!

African journal of psychological assessment, Mar 27, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Looking Back, Moving Forward

Cambridge University Press eBooks, Aug 11, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of The role that access and attitudes toward tablets have on learners’ achievement in a Johannesburg school

South African Journal of Education, Aug 31, 2019

One of the central themes across education policies in South Africa is ensuring equal access to e... more One of the central themes across education policies in South Africa is ensuring equal access to education in a context of diminishing resources. The roll-out of technology in schools plays a pivotal role in achieving equity. With the emphasis on technology integration, it is imperative to fully understand the factors that influence this process. Thus, this study investigated the role of access to tablets, and learners' attitudes towards tablets, on learner achievement. A convenience sample of 276 learners from an independent high school in Johannesburg, where tablets were used in the learning environment, completed a cross-sectional survey consisting of a demographics section, a section on access to technology, and a scale on attitudes towards the use of tablets. The results indicate that learner achievement is largely influenced by learner attitudes towards tablets, and in particular, enjoyability of use. Findings provide evidence that tablet provision, while necessary, is not sufficient for the successful integration of tablets and subsequent redress of equality in education in South Africa.

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring the Influence of Educators’ Access to and Attitudes towards Educational technology on the Use of Educational Technology in Johannesburg Schools

Africa Education Review, Jan 22, 2019

the South African White Paper on E-education. Transforming Learning and Teaching through Informat... more the South African White Paper on E-education. Transforming Learning and Teaching through Information and Communication Technologies emphasises the need to integrate educational technology (Et) in classrooms. Yet, the situation in practice indicates that effective integration has not occurred. this article reports on a study that used a quantitative, cross-sectional design to explore the role of educators' access and attitudes towards ET in understanding the use and integration of Et in classrooms. Hence, a convenience sample of 119 educators from schools in Johannesburg, South Africa, completed a questionnaire consisting of a demographics section, the Attitudes towards computer Scale (AtcS), and the Information and communication technology Survey (IctS). the results were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regressions. From the results it was evident that educators had differential access to Et at school and at home. Generally, the educators reported positive attitudes to Et particularly as it pertained to the usefulness of Et in the classroom. Furthermore, the results indicated that educators' access and attitudes significantly predicted their use and integration of Et in classrooms. Differential patterns of use and integration were found across teaching and learning, lesson planning, communication with parents and learners and personal communication. The findings suggest that interventions to improve the uptake of ET should consider access and attitudes as core constructs which influence Et use and integration.

Research paper thumbnail of Religious orientation and personality styles in psychology students

IFE Psychologia: An International Journal, Sep 14, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Editorial: Indigenous Research of Personality From Perspectives of Globalization and Glocalization

Frontiers in Psychology, Apr 26, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of <i>Ostinato rigore</i>: establishing methodological rigour in quantitative research

South African Journal of Psychology, Aug 2, 2016

The last 20 years in South Africa and abroad have evidenced huge changes in the ways in which res... more The last 20 years in South Africa and abroad have evidenced huge changes in the ways in which research is accessed and produced. These changes were facilitated by the rapid developments in technology. Collaborating with researchers across the globe and accessing articles and research can be done at the push of a button and response times are as instantaneous. Conducting and communicating one’s own research are also much easier. This led to a veritable explosion of publishers and journals, some of which are legitimate and others predatory. In this climate, the adage of ‘publish or perish’ has become a lived reality placing increasing pressure on scholars to publish. An unintended consequence of this is the increasing lack of methodological rigour in studies. This article advocates for increasing attention to methodological rigour in quantitative research. In so doing, guidelines and suggestions are provided in terms of elements to be considered within each of the broad aspects of a study, namely, sampling, instrumentation, methods, design, and data analysis. These are drawn from the literature as well as the author’s own experiences in teaching quantitative research methods, supervising postgraduate student research, reviewing articles for local and international journals, as well as experiences of reviewing articles located within the quantitative paradigm as Associate Editor for the South African Journal of Psychology. Ultimately, this article seeks to create awareness among researchers around the necessity for methodologically rigorous research to enhance the quality of outputs. This will have the effect of producing impactful research that can confidently inform policy, practice, and training within the discipline.

Research paper thumbnail of Revised NEO Personality Inventory--Tigrignan Version

Research paper thumbnail of Research as Practice: Contextualising applied research in the South African context.

Wits Press, 2019

In S. Laher, A. Fynn, & S. Kramer (Eds.), Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences: C... more In S. Laher, A. Fynn, & S. Kramer (Eds.), Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences: Case Studies from South Africa.

Research paper thumbnail of Trends in social science research in Africa: Rigour, relevance and responsibility

Wits Press, 2019

In S. Laher, A. Fynn, & S. Kramer (Eds.), Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences: C... more In S. Laher, A. Fynn, & S. Kramer (Eds.), Transforming Research Methods in the Social Sciences: Case Studies from South Africa

Research paper thumbnail of The 4I=R 2 Framework: Advancing an agenda for psychological assessment in South Africa Inaugural lecture delivered by: Prof Sumaya Laher

Inaugural address, 2020

The unprecedented rise in the use of technologies across all sectors during COVID-19 hastened Sou... more The unprecedented rise in the use of technologies across all sectors during COVID-19 hastened South Africa's participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). However access and distributional challenges in South Africa remain core concerns amidst a volatile and complex global context. Psychology and psychological assessment in particular requires a rethinking within this time and space. This lecture will present a brief history of assessment internationally and locally to contextualize the need for a 4I=R 2 framework for assessment in South Africa. The 4I=R 2 framework affords an opportunity for the discipline to advance beyond traditional assessment practices where the 4 I's of Inclusion, Indigenisation, Innovation and Impact will be discussed as necessary components for a relevant and responsive discipline. In so doing the lecture will present evidence where traditional forms of assessment are evolving in line with social contexts and technological developments. The extent to which this aids in addressing challenges in the South African assessment landscape with regards to theory, research, policy and practice will be discussed together with what still needs to be done to meet the 4I=R 2 vision.