EXAMINING HOW NOVICE CONSULTANTS ADDRESS CULTURAL FACTORS DURING CONSULTATION:ILLUSTRATION OF A COMPUTERSIMULATED CASE-STUDY METHOD

摘要

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 computer-simulated 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.