Epistemic violence in psychological research: Unveiling bias in methodology, methods, and the peer review process

The concept of epistemic violence, which defines the oppression of knowledge systems and knowers, has become more significant when applied to psychological research. The article interrogates epistemic violence through the examination of research design, as well as methodological paradigms and methods, and the peer review process. This paper examines how mainstream psychological science creates epistemic exclusion by favouring Western positivist approaches over indigenous experiential and non-normative ways of knowing through the lens of postcolonial theory, feminist epistemology, and critical psychology. The methodological gatekeeping together with disciplinary conventions and reviewer biases operate as mechanisms that lead to epistemic marginalisation of research produced by scholars from historically excluded communities. The article suggests strategies for improving research inclusivity and epistemic justice in academic culture, including methodological pluralism, reflexive research approaches, and changes to peer review procedures. The analysis aims to advance existing efforts for psychological knowledge decolonisation and academic publishing equity enhancement.