Behavior Analysts’ Training and Practices Regarding Cultural Diversity: the Case for Culturally Competent Care

Abstract

The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by 2044, the United States will become a majority minority nation, meaning no group will have a majority portion of the total population (Colby & Ortman, 2014). Therefore, training on working effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds is critical. We surveyed Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) to assess the amount of training they received during their coursework, fieldwork or practicum, employer training, and continuing education on working with people from diverse backgrounds. In addition, we assessed whether BCBAs thought training on this topic was important, how skilled they thought they were in this area, and whether behavior-analytic course instructors included material on cultural diversity in their courses. The majority of respondents reported that training on working with individuals from diverse backgrounds is very or extremely important. Interestingly, although the majority of respondents reported they felt moderately or extremely comfortable and were moderately or extremely skilled at working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, the majority of respondents reported having little or no training in this area. We discuss the implications of these results for the field of applied behavior analysis and future directions.

Can Behavior Analysis Help Us Understand and Reduce Racism? A review of the Current Literature

“…For example, we can do the following: We should also try to improve service delivery to diverse populations that may be affected by racial bias from providers (Brodhead, Quigley, & Wilczynski, 2018;Fong, Ficklin, & Lee, 2017). Unfortunately, recent survey data show that behavior analysts have minimal experience working with diverse cultural minorities and lack the training needed to respond to the multifaceted difficulties these groups face (Beaulieu, Addington, & Almeida, 2018;Conners, Johnson, Duarte, Murriky, & Marks, 2019). It is also likely that behavior analysts have little training in implementing ACTr-related interventions with diverse groups.…”

Towards the Development of Antiracist and Multicultural Graduate Training Programs in Behavior Analysis

“…Specifically, instructors might include prompts that allow students to share their diverse experiences or use vignettes that incorporate the need for a culturally competent approach. Instructors could also use instructional tools and strategies such as self-reflection exercises and cultural immersion activities throughout academic and clinical coursework to increase students' awareness of their own biases, as well as those implicit in the field of ABA (Beaulieu et. al., 2019;Conners et al, 2019).…”

“…Oftentimes, this can include asking specifically if their training programs interfere with anything in regard to their client's culture. In doing so, a clinician recognizes that some behaviors perceived as inappropriate by them, may be appropriate behaviors in their client's environment (Beaulieu et. al., 2019).…”

“…ANTIRACIST GRADUATE TRAINING Supervisors could monitor students' behavior toward individuals of different backgrounds and provide guidance to help shape students' verbal and nonverbal behavior to improve therapeutic relationships (Conners et al, 2019). Since supervisors will need to train their staff in cross-cultural practice and given that most behavior analysts have received very little training in working with populations from diverse backgrounds (Beaulieu et al, 2019) Practicum courses could require that off-site supervisors sign an agreement to acknowledge the university's diversity policy and engage in exercises that highlight the role of multicultural variables in clinical service provision within their supervision of the student. In addition, students could be asked to evaluate their training site's commitment and implementation of culturally responsive interventions, clinical training, and supervisory practices; these data could be used by the university's clinical training program to determine continuation of a relationship with each external practicum site or a need for remediation.…”

“…Diversity in research is not only understudied, its necessity for consideration is generally up for debate (Li et al, 2017). In fact, cultural information such as race/ethnicity and linguistic ANTIRACIST GRADUATE TRAINING information has been found to be reported in only 3% -10.7% of studies published in behavioral journals (Beaulieu et al, 2019;Brodhead et al, 2014;Li et al, 2017). These low percentages indicate a general consensus to a colorblind-like approach to conducting research.…”