WEIRD Bias

The overrepresentation of Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations in research, including HCI and accessibility studies. WEIRD bias means that findings, design guidelines, and technology solutions are predominantly shaped by and for a narrow demographic that represents a minority of the global population. In accessibility research, WEIRD bias can lead to standards and assistive technologies that fail to account for the diverse cultural, economic, and social contexts in which people with disabilities live worldwide.