The Assessment Research and Innovation in Africa (ASRIA) Lab is a research laboratory based at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and led by Professor Sumaya Laher. The lab’s work is anchored in two core areas of psychology: psychological assessment and research methods. Through rigorous scholarship, collaborative engagement, and capacity-building initiatives, ASRIA seeks to strengthen the theoretical, methodological, and applied foundations of psychological research and practice.
A central pillar of ASRIA’s work is its advocacy role, both locally and internationally. The lab actively engages with professional bodies, academic institutions, policymakers, and practitioners to promote equitable, ethical, and context-sensitive approaches to assessment and research.
Locally, ASRIA contributes to transformation agendas within higher education and professional psychology by supporting curriculum innovation, capacity development, and the strengthening of locally relevant assessment practices.
Internationally, the lab collaborates with global partners to amplify African perspectives, challenge epistemic inequities, and contribute to global debates on methodological rigor, fairness, and relevance.
Mission
ASRIA advances psychological science through rigorous and contextually responsive research in psychological assessment and research methods. We develop and advocate for approaches that are culturally relevant, ethically grounded, and suited to African and Global South contexts.
Vision
ASRIA envisions a psychology that is locally grounded, globally engaged, and socially responsive where assessment and research methods are innovative, equitable, and contextually valid.
Values
ASRIA is guided by the following core values:
Contextual Relevance
We prioritise research and assessment practices that are grounded in the social, cultural, and historical realities of the contexts in which they are applied.
Scientific Rigor
We are committed to methodological excellence, psychometric integrity, and ethical research practices that advance credible and impactful psychological science.
Equity and Social Justice
We advocate for fairness, inclusivity, and transformation in assessment and research, challenging epistemic and structural inequities within psychology.
Innovation and Critical Engagement
We value critical reflection and innovation in theory, methodology, and practice, fostering approaches that move beyond uncritical replication toward meaningful local relevance.
Collaboration and Capacity Building
We believe in collaborative scholarship and mentorship that strengthens research capacity and supports the development of emerging scholars and practitioners.
Advocacy and Impact
We engage locally and internationally to influence policy, practice, and professional standards, promoting context-sensitive and ethically sound approaches to assessment and research.
