THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PSYCHOLOGY DISCIPLINE IN BOTSWANA: RESEARCH SO FAR

The main aim of this review was to compile and review the development and research output by the academic psychologists at the University of Botswana. The secondary objective was to discover current trends in research, and also identify gaps in research. This was done in light of broader developments and paradigms in psychology and related fields, as well as the nation-building standards identified by the University of Botswana. The process followed entailed identifying topics and related keywords, then using the keywords to conduct both electronic and manual searches of the literature. The process also entailed reviewing the references sourced, studying the material, and identifying new references through citations. Thereafter, the material was organized to identify themes and gaps were assessed. The majority of identified gaps included research regarding the HIV/AIDS pandemic, poverty, unemployment, and the general culture. The paper concluded by highlighting future trends and recommendations for increasing research output.