A Culturally Sensitive Approach to Large-Scale Prevention Studies: A Case Study of a Randomized Controlled Trial With Low-Income Latino Communities

Abstract

In response to U.S. federal mandates to increase the presence of underrepresented populations in prevention research, investigators have increasingly focused on using culturally sensitive research practices. However, scholars have rarely discussed these practices in terms of a larger culturally sensitive framework. Further, while the literature has explored how culturally sensitive approaches can be employed in a variety of methods, there has been little examination of how to incorporate such approaches into experimental designs. In this paper, we explain how we incorporated a culturally sensitive framework in a cluster randomized field trial with over 3,000 predominantly low-income Latino families, utilizing an intervention designed to improve social relations and enhance family functioning. We offer conceptual and practical examples to guide other researchers who want to adopt a similar approach in their research designs. In addition, we discuss the benefits of forging local partnerships throughout the research process to ensure respect for racial and ethnic minorities participating in social and behavioral experimental studies. We conclude with practical considerations for utilizing a culturally sensitive framework to advance prevention programs, policies, and practices among underrepresented groups in order to achieve the ultimate goal of addressing the traditional underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities in research.

The Development and Sustainability of School-Based Parent Networks in Low-Income Latinx Communities: A Mixed-Methods Investigation

“…We supplemented school-based recruitment events with home visits to ensure the fullest participation possible. Regarding compensation, we balanced concerns about possible coercion with the recognition that research participants from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities should be compensated fairly (Rangel & Valdez, 2017). Families were compensated $10 for completing the preprogram Rangel et al survey.…”

“…The contents herein are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the supporting agencies. 1 See Rangel and Valdez (2017) for more details about the study's design and the culturally sensitive approach that guided the logic of the study.…”

“… 1 See Rangel and Valdez (2017) for more details about the study’s design and the culturally sensitive approach that guided the logic of the study. …”

Inequality in the Schooling Experiences of Disabled Children and Their Families During COVID-19

“…At the same time, this focus on involvement places greater emphasis on the role of parents and says little about the responsibility of schools to engage families. Prior research has found that schools in under-resourced communities do a poor job engaging parents and that outreach efforts, when not conducted in a culturally sensitive manner, exacerbate constraints on involvement (Rangel & Valdez, 2017;Valenzuela, 1999). In addition, research has shown that schools rebuff racial and ethnic minoritized parents' intervention efforts (Angell & Solomon, 2017), and when these parents demonstrate high levels of involvement, their children do not receive the same educational benefits as their non-minoritized peers (McNeal Jr, 1999).…”

IPV Among Latina Survivors: Unique Considerations, Strategies, and Opportunities

“…The various strategies used by researchers to collect data (e.g., phone vs. in-person surveys), the specific questions asked (e.g., number of acts of physical violence vs. the context of the violence), and the social/community conditions where the study is conducted (e.g., changes in immigration laws) all impact the results of the study. For Latinas, the language in which the study is conducted (including the use of variations in the Spanish language) can also affect the results (Hamby 2015;Rangel and Valdez 2017). With these limitations in mind, the latest data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that one in three (34.4%) Latinas experienced physical violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking from an intimate partner in their lifetime (Smith et al 2017).…”