Examining racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity in occupational science research: Perspectives of persons of color

ABSTRACT Diverse sociodemographic identities, including race, culture, ethnicity, and gender, are important influences on one’s occupational patterns and choices. However, occupational science theories and research were originally driven by Western White middle-class researchers and conducted on White participants. With a focus on the Western context, we sought to identify areas for improvement in the delivery and conduct of occupational science research with considerations of race, ethnicity, culture, and occupation among underrepresented racial groups. A critical content analysis was conducted of empirical research undertaken in Western countries between 2015 and 2020 and published in the Journal of Occupational Science (JOS). This analysis asked (a) What is the stated positionality of first author? (b) What are the racial or ethnic orientations of research participants? and (c) Is there explicit discussion of a racial/ethnic phenomenon? The findings reveal a lack of scholarship on race, ethnicity, and culture. Many primary authors did not explicate their positionality in relation to the research topics and study participants. The findings reify that the current production of occupational science research continues to occur within a wider field of social relations that is characterized by the agendas, interests, and values of the dominant group. Informed by critical race theory, we urge occupational science academic journals and their contributing authors to commit to epistemological antiracism. We recommend making space for racialized perspectives; acknowledging how these identities affect engagement and choice of occupations; clarifying who regulates, narrates, and participates in occupational science research; and creating inclusive scholarly ecosystems.