Multicultural Competency in Research: Examining the Relationships Among Multicultural Competencies, Research Training and Self-Efficacy, and the Multicultural Environment

Research Self-Efficacy Beliefs and Research Outcome Expectations: Implications for Developing Scientifically Minded Psychologists

This article explores how and whether the empirical evidence pertaining to research self-efficacy beliefs and research outcome expectations can inform the training and development of scientifically minded psychologists. The competencies associated with a scientifically minded psychologist are described, and a summary and critique of the literature focused on research self-efficacy beliefs and research outcome expectations are presented. An assessment of whether these constructs are adequate for facilitating the development of scientifically minded psychologists is provided. Implications for future research directions are discussed.

Multicultural counseling self-efficacy scale-racial diversity form: factor structure and test of a social cognitive model

This study was conducted to gather evidence on the factor structure and concurrent criterion validity of the multicultural counseling self-efficacy scale-racial diversity form (MCSE-RD; Sheu & Lent, 2007). The MCSE-RD was designed to assess therapists' perceived capabilities in performing culturally relevant in-session behaviors in cross-racial counseling. Participants were 209 students in counseling-related graduate programs in the USA. Confirmatory factor analyses identified a bifactor structure in which responses to MCSE-RD items could be explained by one generic and three multicultural-specific counseling self-efficacy factors. Support was also found for a social cognitive model in which self-efficacy and interests in multicultural counseling mediated the effects of prior cross-racial client contacts and perceptions of multicultural training environments on intent to perform multicultural counseling in the future. Additionally, outcome expectations were predictive of multicultural counseling interests and choice goals. Implications for multicultural training and directions for future research are highlighted.

Integrating Practice Guidelines Into Professional Training

The authors present the findings of a special task group (STG) organized to explore effective training strategies for the practice guidelines focused on diverse populations. They provide a brief literature review and summarize survey data from academic training directors regarding current use of practice guidelines. The authors then describe the Integrative Training Model (ITM), developed by the STG, as a framework for students and professionals to incorporate the complex array of information contained in each set of guidelines. Unique challenges associated with incorporating the ITM are described, as well as pedagogical considerations for both students and current professionals. The authors believe the ITM may help students and professionals increase their diversity competence by developing a more holistic understanding of the various dimensions and social group experiences that affect their clients and themselves.