WEIRD
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Psychology
| Stands for | Western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
WEIRD stands for Western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic, a psychology abbreviation.
Acronym describing the populations that have supplied most psychology research participants, mostly university students in North America and Europe. Critics argue that findings from WEIRD samples are often treated as universal even though these societies are unusual on many psychological measures.
Example: Results from WEIRD student samples did not replicate in rural communities in Namibia and Fiji.
Usage notes
Joseph Henrich, Steven Heine and Ara Norenzayan coined the term in a 2010 article, citing evidence that about 96% of participants in leading journals came from Western industrialized countries with about 12% of the world's population. The critique has spurred large cross-cultural collaborations.
Related abbreviations
More psychology abbreviations
- 16PF – Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire
- ABA – Applied behavior analysis
- ACT – Acceptance and commitment therapy
- BAI – Beck Anxiety Inventory
- BDI – Beck Depression Inventory
- CBT – Cognitive behavioral therapy
- CFA – Confirmatory factor analysis
- CR – Conditioned response
- CS – Conditioned stimulus
- DBT – Dialectical behavior therapy
- DV – Dependent variable
- EI – Emotional intelligence