CULTURAL SENSITIVITY IN OUR RESEARCH SETTING AND AS IT RELATES TO OUR OUTCOME MEASURES. Sankofa 2013 training meeting.

aknowledgements many slides are taken from / leitzmann-m-a-intercultural-trainer-june Many have been adapted to suit our topic, and there are a few new ones specific to us. Refs: Ursula D. Leitzmann, 2004 Berry et al: Cross Cultural Psychology Alexia Eslan and Arman Lorz from JSI Research & Training Institute

Culture is… …the software of the mind leitzmann-m-a-intercultural-trainer-june

You may belong to more than one culture –Professional and education –Ethnic/traditional –Global etc

Where do you belong? trainer-june

Culture is what water is to a fish …it takes it for granted until it is out of its environment trainer-june

A fish only discovers its need for water when it is no longer in it. Our own culture is like water for the fish. It sustains us. We live and breathe through it.” ~ Stephanie Quappe and Giovanna Cantatore

Kaleidoscope of Identities © Cathy L. Royal Ph.D. YOU AGE CLASS GENDER RELIGION NATIONALITY SEXUALITY RACE ABILITY. - +

Cultural Competence Cultural competence refers to an ability to interact effectively with people of different cultural backgrounds. Developing cultural competence results in an ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures.

Eg’ Direct Communication C O N T E X T Verbal Non-Verbal Meaning is in the verbal message Speaking one’s mind Face-to-face communication → can be perceived as going overboard when too assimilated to this communication style

2 nd eg. Indirect Communication C O N T E X T Verbal Non-Verbal Meaning is in the context Vague and ambiguous language Involvement of third parties to solve disagreements → can be perceived as deceiving by individuals who prefer a direct communication style

Verbal Styles Person-oriented Displays role suspension Emphasizes importance of informality Individual-centered Verbal style less indicative of competence Status-oriented Role-centered Emphasizes formality Emphasizes hierarchy and deference to authority Use of proper verbal style (context-dependent)

Task versus Relationship Time AchievementAchievement Goal Relationship Task

Some orientations we live by More traditionalMore Global 1.Relationship orientedTask/action oriented 2.Past/presentPresent/Future 3.More formal relationshipsLess formality 4.Change and initiative are uncomfortableChange and initiative welcomed 5.Less personal space requiredMore personal space required 6.Many things happen at the same timeLinear time oriented

Orientation and its effects on our collective work More or less formality in how we work together? Shall we place less emphasis on relationship and more on achieving Can we forgive each other the infractions due to different orientations/cultures –Eg less formality, when you are late in tasks and someone steps in or s you copying everyone, will you take it personally?

Stumbling Blocks in Intercultural Communicationhttp: // training-ursula-d-leitzmann-m-a-intercultural-trainer-june Language Making sense in a non-native language Non-verbal assumptions Eye contact, personal space Assumptions of similarities Attribution of meaning

Language: English is the language in which the concepts and constructs of psychology have been defined. – Are our measures easily translated into our local languages; please translate for me: Depression Anxiety In the past two weeks, have you had a drink three times when you did not want to.

–Should our interviewers use a translated template? Or can different interviewers use the same words –Will a less literate population be able to do linear and numeric gradations of their emotions? –For a clinical population, shall we shorten the scales by eliminating repetitious items, and by reducing the points on the scales: yes/no/ or shall it be the interviewer who decides whether extreme, or moderate?

REFS Ursula D. Leitzmann, 2004 Berry et al: Cross Cultural Psychology Alexia Eslan and Arman Lorz from JSI Research & Training Institute