Effectiveness of Personality Tests on Indigenous People Essay Example for Free

Effectiveness of Personality Tests on natal People EssayAbstract This review seeks to valuate the effectiveness of the ideal personality tests on autochthonous people. The two indigenous groups focused on argon primaeval Americans and original Australians. Several academic sources have been researched when creating this review. What was surprisingly discovered was the overwhelming evidence that presented a stoop point of view startlining mainly the inappropriateness of personality tests. Introduction The term inappropriate is universally defined as not suitable or proper in the circumstances (Brown, Robert T.Reynolds 1999).Most standard personality tests among researchers are considered to be inappropriate for use with Aboriginal people in Australia and for Native Americans in the USA. (Brown, Robert T. Reynolds 1999). The following psychological judgement tests can be generally misleading to indigenous Australians and Native Americans which hold MMPI-2 (Abel 1973), T he Westerman Aboriginal ChecklistYouth (WASC-Y), DSM IV-TR, ICD10, the Who Am I test and the High school adolescent Clinical Inventory(Westerman 1997). Indigenous Austrlian Test Review.The Australian Psychological Society has set guidelines for the conduct of psychological research with Aboriginal and Torres ph oneness Islander people of Australia. One of which outlines that psychologists should take into account ethnicity and culture when making professional judgements with indigenous clients (N. D 1995). However, Tracy Westerman, psychologist and Managing Director of Indigenous Psychological Services(IPS) says the standard personality tests in Australia are subject to cultural bias and are a key reason why the tests are considered inappropriate for indigenous Australians(Westerman 1997).Consequently, indigenous Australians are unfairly penalized as they dont experience the same culture as the dominant participation (Westerman 1997). As a result, these indigenous Australians are inaccurately respected which leads to an inaccurate diagnostic decision (Vicary 2003). One right smart personality tests are considered inappropriate for indigenous Australians are the content provided within the tests. The test content may have high cultural loading, in which a given test requires specific knowledge or experience with mainstream culture (Vicary 2003).For example, certain phrases or words used in certain tests are a disadvantage indigenous Australians. The meaning or unfamiliarity of the terminology used presents problems with the validity of such(prenominal) tests such as misinterpretation (Vicary 2003). For example, Westernman explains that a suicide does not mean that someone has killed themselves in the Aboriginal community. It inwardness that they were cursed (Vicary 2003). Aboriginal people also do not speak English as a native language and therefore will have difficulty comprehending the wording of the test.For those reasons mentioned, MMPI-2 has been criticized by psychologists for its validity when examining versatile cultural groups(Wettinger, M). Westerman Wettinger (1997) state that the norms of interrogation indigenous Australians have been described as out-dated and need to be replaced. Westerman has pointed out that a more practical approach should be undertaken when assessing aboriginal people as it is culturally acceptable for Aboriginal people to learn verbally(Westerman 1997). For example, when working with aboriginal children, oral tests and drawings are a useful promoter of testing as they allow children to tell stories.This is a culturally acceptable way for Aboriginal children go under on information and important messages. The Westerman Aboriginal checklist Youth(WASC-Y) has implemented more effective methods of testing indigenous Australians. The WASC-Y is aimed at identifying early detection of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and suicidal behaviours for Aboriginal youths aged 13-17 (Pearson 2010). A prominent long suit of the test is it does not require written competencies or numeracy skills, and is orally administered (Pearson 2010).Only an experienced psychologist who is skilled in dealing with indigenous Australians can administer the test(Pearson 2010). Although the WASC-Y has been claimed to be reliable when used to assess applicants for job positions or training programmes, companies are not enforced to use this test which is a barrier for indigenous Australians(Pearson 2010) some other major bug out when considering the appropriateness of personality tests is examining whether or not the professional clinicians conducting the tests are cross culturally competent( Riggs, D 2004).The lack of cultural competence in past practice has been a impart factor to the overall failure of systems of care for Aboriginal and Torres Islander Strait people (Brown, 2001 Garvey, 2007 Riggs, 2004). When utilizing standard measures, clinicians settle to assumptions that the client is s imilar to the standardized population(Riggs, D 2004). This assumption is inappropriate when assessing a client from an indigenous culture. For example, Aboriginal people may not be familiar with test taking skills performed by dominant bon ton which may also contribute to their poor performance in the test(Riggs, D 2004).Not understanding the move of the indigenous clients cultural background could lead to inaccurate results and analysis by the clinician. It is considered the responsibility of the clinician to learn as much as possible about the clients culture and to acknowledge any(prenominal) biases or prejudices they may have about the clients ethnic group(Dudgeon, P 2010). Furthermore, it is also the clinicians responsibility to understand any historic issues relevant to Aboriginal people which may impact their lack of motivation and performance when be tested.Factors which cause this impact may include poverty, unemployment and limited educational opportunities(Dudgeon, P 2010). During the meetings between the clinicians and their indigenous clients, the clinicians should build rapport, respect, and a therapeutic kinship with their clients(Westerman 1997). Rapport and communication problems may also exist between the clinician and the indigenous client due to different cultural backgrounds. As a result, the difficulties in rapport and communication may slow down the Aboriginals clients ability respond to test items (Vicary 2003).For example, Westerman (1997) states that traditional psychological testing using the question and dissolver format in one on one situations presents difficulties amongst indigenous children and adults(Westerman 1997). This is because in some Aboriginal cultures, it is considered impolite to ask a question to someone who doesnt know the answer (Westerman 1997). It is also beneficial to build rapport with indigenous clients to eliminate the notion of whiteness(Riggs 2004). This is the skeptisicm that may hook in the Abori ginal community due to the past actions of dominant society which may include taking of land or the stolen generation.Aboriginal clients may have a possible barrier of distrust toward the clinician which may be a apparent in the aboriginal community. This level of distrust may stem from any negative experiences the Aboriginal client has experienced in dominant society such as racialism in their residential school or community(Riggs 2004). Indigenous American Test Review Personality assessment services have also been considered culturally inappropriate for Native Americans living in the United States(Brown, Robert T. Reynolds, Cecil R. Whitaker, dungaree S 1999). These assessments include globally recognized tests such as the MMPI and WAIS.Native Americans are said to depend potential bias stemming from inappropriate test content, differential predictive validity, and bias introduced by language differences and societal consequences due to labelling and prejudice (kaufman and Ren olds 1983). A lack of knowledge for both the Native client and clinician increases the difficulties in conclusion a reliable accurate outcome of an assessment(Fuchs, D. , Young 2006). Clinicians are accused of not having enough historical knowledge about Native Americans while at the same time they assume that their Native American clients are culturally aware of how Western society operates(Fuchs, D., Young 2006).This assumption will cause difficulties for the clinician to assess a person from another culture with fairness and objectivity(Fuchs, D. , Young 2006). Psychologists in the USA have emphasise on an emic approach towards assessing Native Americans(Fuchs, D. , Young 2006). This means that only psychologists who specialize in studying and examining one particular culture would be allowed to assess that culture. It is agreed the assessor needs to build solid relationship with Native American clients while conducting an assessment(Abel 1973).This will help shape the clie nts expectations for the assessment interaction and possible outcomes of assessment(Abel 1973). Native Americans are said to be motivated by human value and approval rather than bureaucratic protocol. This means that structured formal situations between the assessors and the Native American client can be perceive as gratuitous and annoying to the client(Abel 1973). The relationships should be informal, based on respect and understanding, and continuous overtime (Abel 1973).In conclusion, it is evident that a culture clash between indigenous and western cultures is a major issue when performing psychological tests. While most tests gathered in this review deems psychological testing to be inappropriate, there are other tests such as the WASC-Y that specialize in understanding clients from diverse cultures which would be deemed more appropriate for use. It is also important to consider how much funding is being placed by governing bodies to develop more appropriate assessments for in digenous people.