Posted: February 9th, 2023

Assessing Multicultural Competence in Graduate Education

Historically, most of the research, testing, and assessments were conducted by privileged white scholars. Some of the research, testing, and assessments don’t account for minority experiences. So, it is important to explore how research, testing, and assessment impact minority groups in the U.S.

Choose one article from sections 2-5 in the APA’s Testing and Assessment with Persons and Communities of Color.

Discuss with your peers how traditional research and testing in psychology have disadvantaged racial/ethnic minorities and other marginalized populations in the U.S. and consider the ethical impact of such disadvantages. Use APA 7TH edition, in-text citations and scholary resources.
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One article from sections 2-5 in the APA’s Testing and Assessment with Persons and Communities of Color is “Assessing Multicultural Competence in Graduate Education: An Integrative Theoretical Framework” by Derald Wing Sue, Christina M. Capodilupo, and Kevin L. Nadal.
The article discusses how traditional psychological research and testing have often failed to take into account the experiences and perspectives of racial and ethnic minorities, leading to a lack of understanding and representation of these groups in psychological knowledge. The authors argue that this lack of cultural sensitivity and competence in research and testing has led to a number of negative consequences for minority populations, including inaccurate diagnosis and treatment, and a lack of representation in psychological theories and practices.
For example, the authors cite research showing that traditional psychological tests, which were developed and normed on primarily white populations, often do not accurately assess the abilities or experiences of minorities. This can lead to a misdiagnosis of disorders such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia and also leads to a lack of representation in psychological theories, which may not account for the unique experiences of minority groups.
The authors also point out that traditional psychological research and testing have often been conducted in a way that is exploitative and non-consensual, resulting in ethical violations that have further disadvantaged minority populations. For example, the Tuskegee Syphilis study, in which African American men were deliberately left untreated for syphilis in order to study the disease, is cited as an example of unethical research practices that have harmed minority populations.
Traditional research and testing in psychology have disadvantaged racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. by failing to take into account their experiences and perspectives, leading to inaccurate diagnosis, treatment, and representation in psychological knowledge and practices. This has also led to ethical violations that have further harmed these marginalized groups. Therefore, it is important to consider the cultural sensitivity and competence in research and testing in order to address these issues and promote equity and justice.

References:
Sue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., & Nadal, K. L. (2008). Assessing multicultural competence in graduate education: An integrative theoretical framework. American Psychological Association.