Supervisor Multicultural Competence - Article Example

Supervisor Multicultural Competence Purpose The trial addressed a clearly focused issue which is analyzing the direct and indirect effects of perceived supervisor multicultural competence (SMC) and supervisory working alliance (SWA) on trainees’ multicultural competence and trainees’ perceived supervision satisfaction. The population involved in the study was the marriage and family therapy trainees; the intervention was the effects of perceived supervisor multicultural competence (SMC) and supervisory working alliance (SWA). However, the objective of the study does not suggest a clear outcome. In the current global scenario trainers and supervisors of marriage and family therapy programs may very often meet with multicultural scenarios. Thus the case conceptualization abilities of them in relation with multicultural client back ground which is in other terms, multicultural competence would be often needed. The basic trial made by the study is to evaluate the role of such a multicultural competence of the supervisor on the multicultural competence of the trainee and the perceived supervision satisfaction. The author has structured a proper background to the research subject through extensive reference to a number of scientifically and contextually relevant published works. The author has referred to appropriate and adequate works. The author referred to an explicit range of books and periodicals. A wide period range was covered as literature review has covered works from the year 1979 to the year 2005. Method The data was collected using questioners. The selection of the population was done through random selection from a mailing list provided by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Thus it can be assumed that the participants of the study were properly randomized. So as to further assure the randomization process and to address the ordering effects, the questionnaires within each packet were randomly ordered. As the participants were informed of the objectives of the study, the blinding of the study cannot be considered to be proper. However, on the other side this dissemination of information and transparency in the study has added to the ethical aspect of the methodology. As the inclusion criteria for the participants have not been mentioned, the participants cannot be considered as a representative sample of the population. It must also be considered that being included in the mailing list of American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) does not mean that they were active participants of any marriage and family therapy. The tools in the methodology were questioners posted to 650 trainees along with Covering letter, a copy of the Supervisor Multicultural Competency Inventory, the Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory, the Supervision Satisfaction Questionnaire, a multicultural case conceptualization ability exercise, and a demographic form. However, only 147 of them responded and participated in the survey. This low response rate of 22.6% further raises concerns over the sample size and thus its representation of the population. The groups were not similar at the start of the trial. The group within itself differed with relevance to this data at the beginning of the study. Out of the 147 participants, 26 were males and 121 were females. The age range lied between 21 to 71 years. The mean age was 33.44 years. With reference to the cultural heterogeneity of the population, 103 were Caucasian, 12 were African American, 13 were Asian American, 13 were Hispanic American, one was Native American, three were biracial/bicultural, and two did not specify their race or ethnicity. The sample had huge variation in their education levels as well; Ninety of them were at a master’s level, 15 at a postgraduate level, 37 at a doctoral level, and the education status of five were unclear. The participants were however treated equally as there was no difference in the methodology of survey received by different participants. However, the lesser response in comparison with the actual planned sample size would have affected the efficacy of the methodology. Adding to this, it has been mentioned that several of the respondents didn’t answer some of the questions. This can effectively influence the equity in treatment among participants. So as to reach the conclusions, the data was reviewed using different measures. They included; Supervisor Multicultural Competence Inventory; Supervisor Multicultural Competence Inventory; Multicultural Case Conceptualization Ability; Supervision Satisfaction Questionnaire and Demographic Form. The questionnaires were designed in accordance to these measures. The author has referred to scientifically relevant published works and using them has justified the methodology of the design of the questionnaire. Each measure has been thus critically explained for its coverage in the questionnaire. The author has also explained the inclusion criteria for each particular methodology followed with relevance to the measures while designing the questionnaire. In the case of Multicultural Case Conceptualization Ability, two white students doing their doctoral studies were made to associate as coders. They were given 10 hour training, resultantly increasing the quality of the methodology. The coding was based on the ability of the participants to integrate and differentiate various set factors. Findings The results indicated that supervisory working alliance is a significantly relevant mediator in the relationship between supervisor multicultural competence (SMC) and supervision satisfaction (SS). The precision of the results was assured as the coders were ‘objective blinded’ as the research hypothesis was kept unknown to them all through the coding process. Another added advantage of the result was that specific statistical tools were used to analyze the data. All the participants were accounted properly in the data analysis process, adding to the quality of the results. A three path analyze model was used for data collection. This further increases the accuracy of the results. Discussion In the discussion part, the author first of all concludes that the full model which revealed both direct and indirect effects of supervisor multicultural competence among the three paths analyze model provided the best data for the study. The critically important part in the discussion states “Specifically, this study revealed that, although supervisor multicultural competence was directly and positively associated with supervisory working alliance and supervision satisfaction, supervisor multicultural competence had a direct, but negative, relationship with trainee etiology conceptualization abilities”. Interestingly, within the discussion the author has represented this relationship using a flowchart. This adds clarity to the discussion part. A number of literatures has been referred and linked by the author further adding to the scientific credibility of the conclusions made by the research. In totality, the study has pointed out the relevance of supervisory working alliance as a mediator in the relationship between relationship between supervisor multicultural competence and supervision satisfaction. The discussion has specifically answered the research hypothesis and has related well with the focused issue dealt by the research. Recommendations The major recommendation made by the research is the development of a successful tool for the measurement of supervisor multicultural competence. Though the limitation in the sample size directly limits the implication of the results of the study, the study can be an ideal reference material for further studies. It requires further research before concluding the tool recommended by the research as an effective one. In terms of local application, the results of the study can be implied f or further research. Though there is no reference to the costing of the study, the benefits can be considered cost effective as the study evolved with a significant result which can be implemented for further research. Read More