Crookes, A. & Warren, M. A. (2022). Building a global psychological science through research in the Pacific Island Nation of Fiji: A review of the literature. Discover Psychology, 2, 15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-022-00029-3.

There is increasing internationalization of psychological science through cross cultural research, international conferences, and funding initiatives. However, more awareness is needed to include the populations of smaller, developing nations and to develop an indigenous focus in psychological methods and themes. The Pacific Island Countries provide an important opportunity in both of these – as a region of diverse ethnic, geographic, and economic contexts and as independent Indigenous populations with strong traditional identities. Fiji, as one of the most developed of these nations is well placed to act as a hub for extending the cultural perspectives of psychological science. The present systematic review aimed to identify the psychological research undertaken in Fiji and explore how this has added to the knowledge base in psychological science. A total of 131 peer-reviewed publications were identified on electronic databases of which 80% reported primary research studies in some form. The literature suggests a growing interest in primary research undertaken in Fiji that has already added substantially to psychological understanding in many core areas. The discussion suggests continued opportunity to build global psychology through research in Pacific Island populations as well as opportunity to broaden the scope of psychological science itself through exploration of indigenous psychologies.

*Leslie Aguilar, BA international business student at Western, assisted by developing the article database for this project.