Date of Award

10-2015

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

Winston Seegobin

Second Advisor

Mary Peterson

Third Advisor

Carlos Tayolo

Abstract

Previous research has indicated that the United States is experiencing a rapid growth in its racial and ethnic diversity. Although diversity trainings are common place, many of these trainings do not include outcome measurements to ensure that training goals are met and reactions are favorable. The current study expands the research by evaluating the change in attitude, selfreported culturally competent behavior, and knowledge as a result of the training as well as reactions to the training through the use of pre and post-training measures. Mental healthcare workers (n = 47) completed a pretest, received the diversity training, and then completed the posttest immediately following the training. Paired samples t-tests, and frequencies were used to analyze specific training outcomes. A statistically significant difference was found from the total scores of the pretest (M = 60.31, SD = 10.23) to post test (M = 69.17, SD = 7.81) on the measure, t(47) = -7.86, p = .000. Specifically, attitude, self-reported culturally competent behavior, and knowledge were all found to have statistically significant improvements, with attitude scores improving from pretest (M = 24.99, SD = 4.07) to post test (M = 28.20, SD = 3.26) t(47) = -7.63, p = .000, culturally competent behaviors scores improving from pretest (M = 19.34, SD = 4.03) to post test (M = 22.06, SD = 3.16), t(47) = -6.85, p = .000, and knowledge scores improving from pretest (M = 15.98, SD = 3.05) to post test (M = 18.90, SD = 2.41), t(47) = -6.78, p = .000 on the measure. These results indicate that diversity training can significantly improve participants understanding of diverse clients. This study highlights the importance of developing and objectively assessing diversity training to ensure its effectiveness and applicability to clinical work.

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