Examining how novice consultants address cultural factors during consultation: Illustration of a computer-simulated case-study method.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how novice consultants address cultural factors during consultation. A qualitative case-study design was used to examine how four novice consultants implemented problem-solving consultation in a computersimulated school environment. The consultants were four advanced graduate students in school psychology who had completed consultation training and at least one year of school-based practicum. The consultants were recruited to complete one consultation case with a simulated European American teacher and a simulated African American student. On completion of the consultation case, each consultant was interviewed about her approach to multicultural consultation. Four themes emerged from the data indicating that, although consultants have some knowledge of how to address cultural factors during consultation, there are barriers that prevent them from demonstrating this knowledge during consultation (e.g., discomfort with raising cultural topics, a lack of multicultural consultation training). Implications for training are discussed.

Educating Consultants for Multicultural Practice of Consultee-Centered Consultation

“…They concluded that it is imperative that programs (a) better prepare consultants to work in the diverse and inequitable world and (b) educate them with a better understanding of how issues of social justice and cultural identity relate to their consultation. Newell's (2010Newell's ( , 2012 and Newell et al's (2013) work contributes to the findings of these studies. She used computer-simulated technology with novice and experienced consultants to study consultant competence and rationale in working with cultural issues in consultation.…”

“…Newell (2012) found that the novice consultants were strongest in their knowledge of behavioral theory, assessment, and intervention; they were weakest in the areas of relationship development, process consultation, and multicultural consultation. Newell et al (2013) reported that consultants sometimes had knowledge of cultural factors, but they did not demonstrate this knowledge in their consultation responses due to discomfort with raising cultural topics and a lack of multicultural consultation training. Because consultants were reluctant to raise these cultural issues in computer-simulated consultation, Newell et al raised concern that it may be even more difficult to address these topics during real-world consultation cases.…”

“…Several authors have called for more thorough integration of multicultural competence into the development of consultants (Anton-LaHart & Rosenfield, 2004;Hazel et al, 2010;Ingraham, 2014, in press-b;Newell et al, 2013;Newell & Newman, 2014). What is needed at this time are models and methods of consultant development and research on the outcomes of their use.…”

A Qualitative Metasynthesis of Consultation Process Research: What We Know and Where to Go

“…Consultees in our sample tended to predominately identify child-centered concerns, while consultants promoted more ecological understandings as the bases for problem solving (e.g., Athanasiou et al, 2002;Hasselbusch & Penman, 2008;Knotek, 2003a;Knotek, 2012;Knotek et al, 2003;Lopez, 2000;Rubinson, 2002;Summers et al, 2007;Young & Gaughan, 2010). In a few studies (Newell, 2010b;Newell & Newell, 2011;Newell, Newell, & Looser, 2013b) novice consultants disregarded an ecological lens during simulated consultation interactions.…”

“…For the purposes of researcher reflexivity (Creswell, 2013), we acknowledge an embedded assumption informing this study and shared by all members of the research team: Processes of consultation are not CCC-specific, but are integrative across all consultation models/approaches (Henning-Stout, 1993). For example, research by Newell and colleagues that is included in this analysis (Newell, 2010a;Newell, 2010b;Newell, 2012;Newell & Newell, 2011;Newell, Newell, & Looser, 2013a;Newell, Newell, & Looser, 2013b; referenced in Appendix) is focused on behavioral/problem-solving consultation, but results appear to have implications for CCC. In sum, we believe that this study has the potential to contribute to our knowledge of CCC, but also to consultation research and practice more broadly.…”