Cultural diversity, psychological research and educational intervention

This paper introduces the dossier and presents the articles which integrate it. It argues for the need to study cultural diversity to support educational practice in multicultural environments, and why this work should be done from educational psychology paradigms. The dossier consists of four articles written by members of the research team for human development, social intervention and interculturality at the Autónoma University of Barcelona. Its content is drawn from research based on educational innovation practice in multicultural environments as well as those at risk of social exclusion. The topics presented in this text, an addressed by the articles in this dossier are: analysis of treatment of cultural diversity in European schools; review of psychology's theoretical models in explaining such diversity; a study on teachers' discourse about students from minority groups; and analysis of teachers' appropriation of an educational innovation in this field. © 2012 Fundación Infancia y Aprendizaje.