2002 SPSSI Biennial Conference
Understanding and Addressing Disparities: International Approaches

The fourth stand-alone conference of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues focused on understanding and addressing disparities. For this conference, we aimed to provide a broad perspective on this issue, with international representation and perspectives. 

Invited addresses were given by Michelle Fine, Miles Hewstone, and Shinobu Kitayama. Invited symposia included Maritza Montero (The Psychology of Liberation to Date: The Legacy of Ignacio Martin-Baro), Peter Ditto (Health Psychology: Decision-making at the end of Life), Johnathan Freedman (Psychology and Law) and Leanne Son Hing (Social Dominance Orientation and Right-wing Authoritarianism). The Presidential special address given by SPSSI President Geoff Maruyama was titled ‘Disparities in Educational Opportunities and Outcomes: What Do We Know and What Can We Do?’

In keeping with our focus on international approaches, this was the first time that the SPSSI stand-alone conference was held outside of the United States. It was sponsored by the University of Western Ontario, University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, Colgate University, and York University.