Review of Research Studies on Cultural Bias in Psychology

The population of minority cultural and ethnic groups in United States has increasing in the last few decades. It is therefore common for a psychological therapist to encounter a client from a different cultural and ethnic background. In such encounters, there is possibility for cultural bias that can affect effectiveness of the psychological intervention.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Review of Research Studies on Cultural Bias in Psychology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many researchers in the recent past have been concerned about cultural bias in the field of psychology and psychological therapies. The paper reviews a few of research studies on cultural bias in psychology, counseling, and marriage and family therapy. Counseling is considered the best intervention to psychological and emotional problems. However, considering cultural and ethnic diversity, counseling may not be effective if a counselor exhi bits cultural bias. In the article, â€Å"Cultural Biased Assumptions in Counseling Psychology† (Pedersen, 2003), Pedersen addresses cultural biases assumptions that may affect the effectiveness of counseling interventions. Pedersen identifies and discusses culturally biases assumptions from an earlier article by Ponterotto and Leong (2003). The author argues that cultural bias has impact on the work of counseling psychologists. Pedersen warns that cultural bias should not be underestimated given that it can have great effect on counseling psychology. To â€Å"internationalize counseling psychological† (Pedersen, 2003), Pedersen proposes that counseling psychologists adopt scientist-practitioner model. In harmony with Pedersen, Snowden (2003) found cultural bias as a major factor contributing to disparity in mental health care provision. Snowden concludes that although other factors such as economical factors led to a gap in mental health care, cultural bias was the ma jor barrier. He advocates for more research on particular forms of bias that could contribute to the disparities. Cultural bias is a major barrier to effective psychological therapy. In family therapy, cultural bias can make it impossible for a family therapist to fully understand her clients’ problems and provide an effective therapy. In the article titled â€Å"Experiential Tasks and Therapist Bias Awareness†, Bermudez (1997) notes that therapeutic process can be affected considerably by cultural bias against minority cultural and ethnic groups.Advertising Looking for essay on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Bermudez, all psychological therapists have assumptions about minority cultural groups. Some of the assumptions and beliefs could be biased and therefore affect effectiveness of a therapy. Bermudez suggests that cultural bias awareness of a therapist can help her to overcome t he bias and be effective across cultures. Bermudez proposes experiential tasks to overcome cultural bias, including role playing, visualization, written assignment, family sculpturing and role reversal. Effectiveness of a psychological therapist in multicultural and multiethnic settings is depended on her cultural competence. In an article titled â€Å"Cultural Competency: From philosophy to research and practice†, Sue (2006) explores the meaning and value of cultural competency in psychological therapies. Sue argues that cultural competency is trainable and proposes that therapist adopt cultural competency strategies in order to improve outcome. Addressing cultural competency in family therapy, Hardy and Laszloffy (2003) found cultural awareness and sensitivity to be important for cultural competency. Hardy and Laszloffy argue that ability of therapist to explore her personal cultural issues puts her in a better position to understand other cultures. In addition, the authors summarize how cultural genogram can be a successful training tool for cultural competence (Hardy Laszloffy, 2003). Cultural bias is a major barrier to counseling minority cultural and ethnic groups. Considering the multicultural nature of the society today, a therapist has to be culturally competent to be effective. Cultural competency skills can help counselors to avoid cultural bias and give better services to their diverse clients. References Bermudez, M (1997). Experiential Tasks and Therapist Bias Awareness. Contemporary Family Therapy 19 (2), 253-267Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Review of Research Studies on Cultural Bias in Psychology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hardy, K. Laszloffy, T. (1995). The Cultural Genogram: Key to Training Culturally Competent Family Therapists. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 21(3), 227-237 Pedersen, P. (2003). Culturally Biased Assumption in Counseling Psycholo gy. Counseling Psychologist 31(4), 396-403 Ponterotto, J. Leong, F. (2003). A Proposal for Internationalizing Counseling Psychology in the United States: Rationale, Recommendations, and challenges. Counseling Psychologist 31(4), 381-395 Snowden, L. (2003). Bias in Mental Health Assessment and Intervention: Theory and Evidence. American Journal of Public Health 93(2), 239-243 Sue, S. (2006). Cultural Competency: From philosophy to research and practice. Journal of Community Psychology 34 (2), 237-245. This essay on Review of Research Studies on Cultural Bias in Psychology was written and submitted by user Vivienne Hull to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Classical Decomposition Model essays

Classical Decomposition Model essays Classical Decomposition Method for Calloway Golf (1995-1999) For this paper I have gathered quarterly data on the sales of Calloway Golf Company from 1995 to the third quarter of 1999,and will attempt to fit a time series model using the Classical Decomposition Method, which uses a multifactor model shown below: Yt = actual value of the time series at time t The trend component (T) in a time series is the long-run general movement caused by long-term economic, demographic, weather and technological movements. The cyclical component (C) is an influence of about three to nine years caused by economic, demographic, weather, and technological changes in an industry or economy. The seasonal variations (S) are the result of weather and man-made conventions such as holidays. These can occur every year, month week, or 24 hours. The error term (e) is simply the residual component of a time series that is not explained by T, C, and S. There are two general types of decomposition models that can be used. They are the additive and multiplicative decomposition models. Multiplicative: Y = T * C * S * e As you can see above the type of seasonality can be determined by looking at the plot of the data. The determination of whether seasonal influences are additive or multiplicative is usually evident from the plot of the data, but this is not the case with the data for Calloway as you can see from the first graph of the quarterly sales. While it is my pretension that the seasonal influences for Calloway are multiplicative, I will use both methods and compare the two models to determine which is a better fit for the quarterly data for Calloway Golf. In the multiplicative decomposition model, which is the most frequently used model, Y is a product of the four components, T, C, S, and e. C and S are indexes that are proportions centered on 1. Only the trend, T, is measured in the same ...

Smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Smoking - Essay Example Smoking is badly affecting the society and steps need to be taken to solve this problem. Smoking is a global issue that needs to be dealt with. Increasing the number of taxes on cigarettes as well as the implementation of bans can prove to be useful for the purpose of discouraging the smokers from smoking and this fact has been proven as many smokers have quit smoking following these regulations. On the other hand proper education regarding the harmful effects of smoking among certain age groups can also prove to reduce the number of non smokers from smoking. The daily news reporter quoted in the year 2008 that the ban on smoking had led to 400000 people quitting smoking in England. A survey in Sweden also indicated the fact that the easy availability of cigarette should be restricted as this might also prove to be helpful for the reduction in the number of smokers as well as subsequent reduction in the passive smokers (Landes

Business Law Patent Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business Law Patent Rights - Essay Example An instrument can be protected as utility patent or even a design patent if it has any unique ornamental feature. Primarily patentability of the invention needs to be determined, which cane be dome by conducting a through patent and non patent literature (prior art) search. Once the patentability established a patent application should be drafted and filed at the respective patent office. The inventor can file a National Application in the parent country or an International Patent Application with WIPO. The international patent application is called a PCT application proves to be cheaper if the invention is desired to be protected in a number of countries. Patent application goes through examination at patent office and eventually the patent gets granted. In the present case if the safety tests conducted on the instrument enhance any feature of the instrument it should be protected. The enhanced feature of the instrument can be protected by filing a continuation in part patent application for the same. Once the patent is granted the assignee can commercialize his invention or in other case assign rights. The rights can be granted completely, by assigning the patent to a single individual/ organization, or territory specific licenses can be given out for commercialization of invention to various interested parties. Patent Infringement is said to have occurred when a patented invention is used, sold, manufactured or offered for

Advocating anti-genocide movement in Darfur Essay Example for Free

Advocating anti-genocide movement in Darfur Essay The United Nations defines genocide as â€Å"acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. † In Darfur the Arab janjaweed militias have killed an estimated 100,000 non- Arab people, burned their villages, and sought to destroy their way of life. On September 9, 2004 U. S. Secretary of State Collin Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that â€Å"genocide has been committed in Darfur and that the Government of Sudan and the [janjaweed] bear responsibility – and that genocide may still be occurring. (DiPiazza) People sometimes get the wrong idea of what genocide means. It is assumed that it is a hopeless case, impossible to stop for it is driven by millenniums of racial or ethnic conflicts. But looking back at history, genocide has mostly been created through calculated, intended decision by national leaders used as the most convenient way to solve a problem or to keep their power and destroy a person or group. And Darfur is not an exception to this. Mr. Bashir and Musa Hilal are not motivated by ancient hatred but of greed to power and influence. They are not extremists but rather coldblooded, amoral opportunists (Kristof). Drought, famine and civil war represent the interactive array of ecological, socio-economic, and political factors at play. Hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) were created from 2003 through 2005 (Arsdale). Competition over scarce resources – such as water and fertile land – had long challenged Darfur. The beginning of an oil industry in Durfur added to the tension. Claiming to represent non-Arab Africans in Darfur, rebel protested decades of government neglect. They demanded full economic, political, and social rights for Darfur. They also wanted oil wealth from the region to be shared equally. To combat the rebels, the government armed local Arab militias called janjaweeds. The Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) arose in response to grievances bring expressed by citizens of Darfur. The SLA’s founding manifesto included its vehement protests against the central government’s â€Å"policies of marginalization, racial discrimination, exclusion, exploitation, and divisiveness. The Janjaweeds, on the other hand, traced their origin with raiders and bandits of various types in Sudan for centuries. In recent decades, so-called Arab cattle raiders occasionally would sweep into a non-Arab village and abscond with a few head (Arsdale). Since 2003, the government of Sudan and its Janjaweed militias has executed a systematic campaign of mass murder, rape, and starvation against the black African tribes of Darfur. As of today, more than 500,000 Darfuris have died, and more than 2. 5 million have been driven from their homes. It goes without saying that other measures have to be undertaken simultaneously to reach a sustainable peace in Darfur. So, the international community should strongly support the Abuja talks between the Sudan government and the main insurgent groups to help them reach a peace agreement, which could be a foundation for equity and good governance in Darfur. And since the negotiation of a lasting peace in Darfur unfortunately could take months, if not years, humanitarian assistance should be provided. Democracy is a first step in the struggle against totalitarian forces that resort to inhuman practices to impose their whim on others, including ethnocide and genocide (Hoeven et al. ). It is important to create the conditions of security that will allow for a safe and voluntary return. A political solution reached in the Abuja talks is a priority to help bring peace to the region. At the same time, there is a strong sense in Darfur that an inclusive, credible and grass roots process of inter-communal dialogue is needed to re-establish peaceful inter-communal relations and re-weave the social fabric of the region. Specific measures to address property and land usage rights will be indispensable to achieve peace and restore relationships between nomadic herders and sedentary agriculturalist tribes (Hoeven et al. ). The African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) evolved as the African Union has authorized the incremental deployment of thousands of personnel to carry out its responsibilities in Darfur. The African Union Peace and Security Council provided AMIS II with the following specific mandate for its peace support efforts: (1) to monitor and observe compliance with the 2004 humanitarian cease-fire agreement; (2) to assist in the process of confidence building; and (3) to contribute to a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian relief and, beyond that, the return of IDPs and refugees to their homes, and to contribute to the improvement of the security situation throughout Darfur (Darfur Crisis: Progress in Aid Peace Monitoring Threatened by Ongoing Violence and Operational Challenges). President Bush had made his statement regarding the issue at the Diplomatic Reception Room, White Palace: Americas commitment is clear. Since this conflict began we have provided more than $1. 7 billion in humanitarian and peacekeeping assistance for Darfur. We are the worlds largest single donor to the people of Darfur. Were working for the day when the families of this troubled region are allowed to return safely to their homes and rebuild their lives in peace. The people of Darfur are crying out for help, and they deserve it. I urge the United Nations Security Council, the African Union, and all members of the international community to reject any efforts to obstruct implementation of the agreements that would bring peace to Darfur and Sudan. I call on President Bashir to stop his obstruction, and to allow the peacekeepers in, and to end the campaign of violence that continues to target innocent men, women and children. And I promise this to the people of Darfur: The United States will not avert our eyes from a crisis that challenges the conscience of the world (Bush). Today, there are a lot of anti-genocide movements, recruiting thousands of people around the world advocating justice and human rights for the casualties and victims of this national turmoil. Politicians, Hollywood stars and even fellow citizens have been voicing out their concern and extending their help over the matter. Works Cited Arsdale, Peter W. Van. Forced to Flee: Human Rights and Human Wrongs in Refugee Homelands. Lexington Books, 2006. Bush, President George. President Bush Discusses Genocide in Darfur, Implements Sanctions 29 May 2007 The White House. 2 December 2007. http://www. whitehouse. gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070529. html Darfur Crisis: Progress in Aid Peace Monitoring Threatened by Ongoing Violence and Operational Challenges. Ed. United States Government Accountability Office: DIANE Publishing, 2006. DiPiazza, Francesca Davis. Sudan in Pictures. Twenty-First Century Books, 2006. Hoeven, Agnes van Ardenne-van der, et al. Explaining Darfur: Four Lectures on the Ongoing Genocide. Amsterdam University Press, 2006. Kristof, Nick. Darfur: Driving up the Price of Blood. Coalition for Darfur, 2007.

A Bruised Way of Life :: essays research papers

A Bruised Way of Life   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"BONG!† is the one and only word that anyone in my family has to say to bring back the memories of an incident that happened at the age of eight. Oh, but this horrifying happening couldn’t have happened in my home, it had to have happened in the middle of my favorite place in the world. None other than the original Downtown Disney, on the most beautiful day there has ever been at the beginning of December. The day was sunny, cloudless, and warm. Or at least warm to me after my accident.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, let me take you back in time. To the day that changed the way my family would make fun of me for the rest of my natural life. On the second day of our vacation to Walt Disney World, my parents, brother, and I decided that we all wanted to get some early shopping into our schedule before actually â€Å"hitting† all of the major parks that Disney World is known for. The usual routine for this area of vacationing was usually left up to the women in our family since it is the shopping area. Everything was going fine, going through the shops and looking at all of the merchandise we wished we were able to afford, when my brother, Brandon, spotted the water fountains that came up from the ground to play in. Before long, Brandon was begging and pleading my parents to go play in the water with the other kids. Even though they were strangers. My parents, of course, said yes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After the first few minutes of Brandon’s fun in the water, I just had to join in. There was no way that I was going to let my brother have all of the fun, then decide to shove it in my face. No way was I going to let that happen to me. By the time a couple of minutes had passed, both my brother and I, were completely soaked from head to toe. That didn’t stop the fun though! The two of us were having such a great time that it had become a chore for our parents to get us to stop. Although, it seemed like a game for Brandon and me! Brandon was the first to finally give in to my parents and stop playing so we could do some more shopping. But getting me out was a totally different story.

Literacy Plan Essay

As I am starting to learn the basics of how to become an effective teacher, I am learning what type of teacher I am and what type of teacher I want to be. Growing up, aspiring to be a teacher, I never thought teachers had to learn how to do some methods I have seen. For example, teachers always knew how to capture the students’ attention again after the children would get off task. I thought this skill came naturally to teachers and I would obtain it with time. On my adventure of this learning process of becoming a teacher, I have learned this skill is something you learn how to do and there are many other skills to learn along the way. These skills and methods come from multiple studies and research done by theorists over the decades. Learning all these theories at first was overwhelming, but over time I got a grasp on the basics of just a few theorists and their theories. There are so many researchers that have put their opinions out in the open for teachers to take into account and work from. There is Vygotsky, Cambourne, Holdaway, Piaget, Skinner, and Dewey just to name a few! After acquiring this basic knowledge of some theories, I have come to realize that there is one theorist’s methods I agree with the most when it comes to teaching literacy. This theorist is Brian Cambourne. Cambourne is an educational anthropologist from Australia who has emphasized his research in literacy learning. He has come up with many conditions pertaining to literacy learning. His theory compliments my beliefs the best, compared to the other theories I have learned about. I believe in having students experience different types of literature. This process allows students to become familiar with different ways of writing, and how to say things in many different ways. This also gives them a chance to figure out what style of language they like best and grasp an idea of what type of literacy come easiest to them. When students understand more types of literacy, it vastly opens up their range of vocabulary that can only benefit them in the future. This condition of students exploring all types of literacy is what Cambourne calls immersion and I find it to be a step that does not seem to be obvious to children. I feel students do not know when they are looking at different types of literacy. I believe in making an effort in explaining what type of material the students are reading from, rather than just handing them something and telling them to read it. This is the reason why I believe demonstration is the next big important process. Demonstration is a very important step in my eyes for literacy learning. Demonstration is modeling literate behaviors, formally and informally (Cambourne). I personally am a visual learner and prefer to have the teacher model what I am going to do before I have to employ it on my own. When a model was not available to me, I would become stressed and overwhelmed with this feeling of not knowing what I am doing. I do not want my students to become frustrated when they are reading and writing; I want them to enjoy it and be excited about it. Therefore, when I become a teacher, I especially want to practice Cambourne’s condition of demonstration by having a whole group lesson in order to formally demonstrate for my students. This can be done while the students are at their desks, but I believe having this process done in a carpet area reminds students that what I, the teacher, am about to say is important to hear. Also, I believe in the saying, â€Å"monkey see, monkey do. † Therefore, I believe a teacher should always speak proper grammar, self-correct, and demonstrate reading strategies at all times in front of the children because they are going to mimic what they hear and see the most by the adults in their lives. After a demonstration is complete, I believe an expectation of what the students should know is built. Cambourne believes this condition of expectation is that the students â€Å"get the message†. I believe that if a teacher’s demonstration was done correctly, the students will know that information and the teacher can expect them to know it. Not only does expectation build, but I believe the responsibility the student has for knowing what him/herself can accomplish grows. This process of being responsible for their own learning, I believe, does not come naturally. I think the teacher must allow these students to take on these responsibilities themselves. For example, if a teacher never lets a student choose their own book, that student will never gain the responsibility of knowing what books are right for him or her or learn how to pick the right kind of book for him or her. Learners will choose what they will explore intellectually as they go through literate behaviors (Cambourne). Once students have become aware of the skills that are being demonstrated to them, I believe the next important step is allowing students time to practice what they have learned. Cambourne calls this condition employment. I am a strong believer in â€Å"practice makes perfect†. I understand that nothing is perfect and there is always room for improvement. So maybe â€Å"practice provides improvement† is a better quote to go by. A learner will never become better at what they are learning if it is not practiced. With students practicing what they have learned, mistakes happen. This condition is what Cambourne calls approximation. I believe it is a good thing to let the learners make mistakes as they are exploring literacy because they will only learn from it! I know that when I become a teacher, I want to stress that making mistakes is okay and will benefit anyone because they will only learn from it. I could even purposely make mistakes in order to model self-correction as well. But learners will only understand their mistake when feedback is given in a timely fashion. Coming to Alverno, I have probably received the most feedback I ever have here compared to the rest of my educational career. I have come to firmly believe that feedback provides new knowledge for learners because it brings another perspective into their personal work. My feelings about feedback correspond with Cambourne’s condition called response. He believes this feedback should come from someone with more knowledge, such as a teacher. I want to make sure I conference with each of my students, individually, in order to look over what they have been working with and provide timely, appropriate feedback. I feel these conferences build a student’s confidence by being told what they are doing well, and they get to understand what kind of mistakes they are making in order to fix them and grow. After reading over Cambourne’s theory, there was nothing I could not agree with. I remember while I was reading it, all I could say was, â€Å"yes, yes, and yes! † I do have to say developing my philosophy about literacy learning was a challenge. I feel like I am still developing my philosophy, but I have a grasp on my basic beliefs for my future teaching career. I know what kind of teacher I would like to be and when reading Cambourne’s theory I could picture myself doing each condition and feeling proud by teaching literacy in such a way.