Methodologies in Peace Psychology: Peace Research by Peaceful Means - Paperback

by Diane Bretherton (Editor), Siew Fang Law (Editor)

Presents innovative methodologies and best practices for conducting psychological peace research in a wide variety of contexts

Provides ideas for some of the alternative, arts-based research methods in psychology

Offers a range of creative and sound tips on how to conduct research with people whose worldview might differ considerably from that of the researchers

Back Jacket

Our world appears to be in endless crisis and increasingly people wonder if they can do something to make a difference. But what role should researchers take? Can we sit aside from the problems of the world or should we be actively engaged in social transformation? Are we equipped to deal with the challenges of the 21^st century? Can we help to build a more peaceful world? Perhaps it is time for us to re-imagine the nature of research and its relationship to the increasingly complex problems of the world.

This unique and timely book describes existing methods of inquiry in psychology, and then explores innovative approaches that use interactive workshops, the creative arts and the social media to more actively engage with communities in building peaceful relationships. Organized thematically, the volume begins with a review of the established best practices in peace psychology, including methods for quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods

designs. The core argument is that peace research should be conducted by peaceful means, and should model peaceful processes. In exploring this argument, the volume points to some of the limitations of working for peace within the tradition of a single discipline and to the need to expand psychology methodology, to methodologies. The compilation of chapters, from authors in different parts of the world gives inspiration to readers to create their own innovative, reliable and context appropriate research designs, ones that could make a real difference.

Traditional research approaches have provided a strong foundation, particularly in understanding the nature of violence, but in the 21^st century researchers will need to reach out to a wider range of cultural groups, to be more active in building peaceful communities and societies, and so be more creative in their approach. Creativity is essential in conflict resolution, in peace building and in peace research. The concluding chapters synthesize key issues from the previous chapters, and raise ideas for the future implementation of research designs and practices. Finally, the book discusses the nature of academic knowledge, and more specifically, academic knowledge in peace psychology, and where it fits into the mission to build a more peaceful world. Methodologies in Peace Psychology: Peace Research by Peaceful Means is a useful tool for both new and experienced researchers because it provides leads for idealistic young researchers who want their work to make a difference, in addition to encouraging more reflection and analysis for experienced peace psychologists.

Author Biography

Diane Bretherton was the founding director of the International Conflict Resolution Centre in the Pyschology Department at the University of Melbourne and for many years chaired the Committee for the Psychological Study of Peace of the International Union of Psychological Science. She is currently an Honorary Professor in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Queensland. She is also a Visiting Professor at the Zhou En Lai School of International Relations at the University of Nankai in Tianjin, China. She has previously contributed to the Springer Series in Peace Psychology as a co-editor of Peace Psychology in Australia and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Peace and Conflict. She has conducted conflict resolution and peace building workshops in many countries in the world, her most recent project being to facilitate a dialogue between indigenous (Mapuche) and non-indigenous people in Chile. She was awarded the Morton Deutsch Award for Research in Conflict Resolution by the American Psychological Association, Washington, in 2011. She has also been made a member of the Order of Australia for theoretical contributions her discipline and for the practical prevention of violence through promoting conflict resolution in the community. Her extensive experience of supervising the research of under-graduate and post-graduate psychology students who wished to make a contribution to the prevention of violence and promotion of peace, within the Psychology Department at the University of Melbourne, informs the proposed book.

Siew Fang Law is of Chinese Malaysian descent and received her education in four continents. She is a Senior Lecturer and teaches in conflict resolution and peace at Victoria University, Australia. Her doctoral education was in culture and conflict resolution at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. She completed her Masters of Science in Social Psychology at the University of Kent in Canterbury, UK and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at St Marys University, Canada. Prior receiving her tenure position at Victoria University, she worked a consultant for international organizations such as UNDP and UNESCO in Southeast Asia and had taught at RMIT. She researches in cross-disciplinary issues that fall into the intersections of culture and conflict resolution, identity, post-colonialism, community development and peacebuilding. She is a nationally Accredited Mediator in Australia and a committee member of the Committee for the Psychological Study of Peace