Teaching Ethnic-Specific Coursework: Practical Suggestions for Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Within the Classroom

2021 ◽  
pp. 009862832110130
Author(s):  
Jordan A. Arellanes ◽  
Michael Hendricks
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Ethnic Matching ◽  
Perceptions Of Students ◽  
Comparison Groups ◽  
Psychology Courses ◽  
Course Material ◽  
Equity And Inclusion ◽  
Teaching Implications ◽  
Class Community

Background: Access to professors willing and trained to teach courses related to specific ethnic groups may be difficult for many universities to provide. This may partially explain why many psychology departments do not offer undergraduate courses that focus on the unique perspectives of specific ethnic groups. Objective: This study offers practical suggestions for instructors in promoting inclusivity within the classroom detailed though perceptions of students. Method: Focus groups were conducted with 27 students within four ethnic-specific courses. Focus groups were divided into comparison groups: 1) those that ethnically matched the course material and 2) those that did not. Results: Ethnic-specific coursework provides space to address systemic issues. Implications from ethnic matching, inclusion efforts within the classroom, and building a class community are discussed. Conclusions: Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are supported when departments offer ethnic-specific courses. The trust and communication with students are improved by constructing effective course frameworks. Teaching Implications: We inform the development and implementation of ethnic-specific psychology courses by highlighting practical considerations for instructors of varying ethnic backgrounds. Instructors from varied backgrounds can effectively teach these courses but having applied experiences and research related to specific ethnic groups is essential in developing trust and communication with students.

Integrating Gender and Ethnicity into Psychology Courses

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret E. Madden ◽  
Janet Shibley Hyde
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Inclusive Curriculum ◽  
Interdisciplinary Nature ◽  
Psychology Courses ◽  
Course Material ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Many ◽  
Ethnicity And Gender

In this introduction to the special issue on teaching about gender and ethnicity in psychology, we consider the assumptions underlying an inclusive curriculum that pays attention to gender and ethnicity and address why such a curriculum has merit. We review empirical studies, assessing whether existing curricula are inclusive, and present an overview of the articles and the recurrent themes. These themes include the complexity of the interaction between ethnicity and gender; the difficulty of deciding which of the many possible ethnic groups to include in course material; the dominance of evaluative comparison in discussions of differences among groups; the interdisciplinary nature of research on ethnicity; and the tendency in psychology to ignore the importance of the power differences that confound analyses of the effect of ethnicity and gender.

“Oh, the Places You Can Go” Gen Z Psychology Students’ Perceived Career Options and Interests

2021 ◽  
pp. 009862832110138
Author(s):  
Brian Collisson ◽  
Brian E. Eck
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Psychology Students ◽  
Student Interest ◽  
Psychology Majors ◽  
Career Options ◽  
Teaching Implications

Background: Career options available to psychology graduates are often underestimated despite psychology being a marketable and versatile degree with hundreds of career options. Objective: This article identifies which career options students perceive as available to psychology graduates and assesses student interest in psychology-related careers. Method: In Study 1, 12 focus groups consisting of 59 psychology majors were asked to list the career options available to psychology graduates. In Study 2, 430 psychology students rated their interest in 273 psychology-related careers. Results: Study 1 revealed careers perceived as available to psychology graduates were most often in counseling (92%) and applied-settings (50%) with child-related (42%), business (25%), and research (25%) careers listed less often. Study 2 revealed psychology majors were most interested in counseling and child-related careers, with 18 of their top 20 careers of interest involving mental health or working with children. Conclusion: Students are often unaware of career options in psychology beyond counseling. Consequently, they tend to be most interested in careers related to counseling and children, particularly careers involving the mental healthcare of children. Teaching Implications: Findings may encourage psychology departments to communicate the broad range of psychology career options for the recruitment and advising of psychology majors.

An ‘Invisible’ Problem? Uncovering the Nature of Racist Victimisation in Rural Suffolk

2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Chakraborti ◽  
Jon Garland
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Ethnic Population ◽  
Racial Harassment ◽  
Minority Ethnic Groups ◽  
Local Agencies ◽  
Minority Ethnic

The issue of racist victimisation in rural areas has been largely overlooked in academic and political circles, although there is growing evidence to suggest that the prevalence and impact of racism are significant problems for minority ethnic groups living in rural parts of England. This article aims to address the paucity of research conducted in the area by outlining the findings of a study conducted in rural parts of Suffolk (a county in the east of England), which was based upon a series of interviews with victims of racial harassment and local agency workers, a questionnaire survey of minority ethnic groups and focus groups with members of the county's established white rural communities. In highlighting the prejudiced attitudes and stereotypes that affect the day-to-day existence of rural Suffolk's minority ethnic population, the article draws attention to the alarming nature and extent of racial harassment in typically intransient communities, together with the perceived sense of isolation suffered by victims of such harassment. The article also discusses the reasons behind victims' reluctance to report racist incidents, and offers suggestions as to how local agencies can make much-needed improvements to their response to victims in rural areas.

scholarly journals Making the second year count: embedding learning development in a progressive student journey

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pat Hill ◽  
Amanda Tinker
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
First Year ◽  
Approach To Learning ◽  
Perceptions Of Students ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Learning Development ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Uk Higher Education

In over a decade of working on embedding skills within the curriculum, it became apparent to us that the second or intermediate year was rather neglected in terms of intervention.  Across the UK higher education sector, focus has been on supporting first year transition and final year projects (Yorke, 2015; Whittle, 2018). The aim of this paper is to explore a progressive approach to learning development within the curriculum which ensures that the second year is fully exploited in terms of bridging the gap between first and final years. Focus groups were used to investigate perceptions of students, subject specialists and learning developers and the subsequent issues are thematically analysed and discussed. Two case studies are then used to demonstrate the design of a curriculum which supports a collaborative and progressive approach to student learning in which learning developers can play a key role. 

Using “Make & Take Quizzes” to Improve Exam Performance and Engage Students in Effective Study Strategies

2020 ◽  
pp. 009862832095799
Author(s):  
Kristel M. Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Study Strategies ◽  
Study Habits ◽  
Exam Performance ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Specific Study ◽  
Course Material ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Main Ideas ◽  
Teaching Implications

Background: Most students rely on ineffective study habits to learn material instead of using evidence-based strategies known to improve learning. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a novel in-class quizzing strategy (i.e., Make & Take Quizzes) that was intentionally designed to engage students in evidence-based study strategies. Method: Final exam grades between sections of identical courses where students completed ( N = 74) or did not complete ( N = 73) Make & Take Quizzes were compared. Changes in the use of study strategies from the beginning to the end of the semester in two courses where students completed the quizzes were also examined. Results: Students in Make & Take Quiz sections significantly outperformed those in sections without the quizzes. Students’ overall strategies for studying did not significantly change; however, there were significant improvements in the specific strategies of deciding on the main ideas when studying and putting ideas into one’s own words when studying. Conclusion: Make & Take Quizzes appear to help students learn course material, while also engaging them in the use of specific study strategies. Teaching Implications: An easy-to-implement strategy, instructors can engage students in the effective use of evidence-based study strategies by incorporating Make & Take Quizzes in their courses.

scholarly journals Ethnozoological and commercial drivers of the pangolin trade in Benin

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislas Zanvo ◽  
Sylvestre C. A. M. Djagoun ◽  
Fortuné A. Azihou ◽  
Bruno Djossa ◽  
Brice Sinsin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
International Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
West African ◽  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Chinese Community ◽  
Trade Networks ◽  
Classification Of Diseases

Abstract Background Pangolins are trafficked in unsustainable volumes to feed both local and global trade networks for their meat and the medicinal properties of their derivatives, including scales. We focus on a West African country (Benin) to assess the medicinal and spiritual values of pangolins among different ethnic groups and identify the cohort of buyers involved in the pangolin trade and related economic values along the chain, notably from local diasporas. Methods We organised 54 focus groups in villages surrounding occurrence habitats of pangolins across Benin and conducted 35 individual interviews with vendors from five major traditional medicine markets (TMMs). Our questionnaire addressed the different uses of pangolins, the commercial value of pangolin items, the categories of clients and the related selling prices. Results Pangolin meat was strictly consumed as food. Scales, head, bones, tongue, blood, heart and xiphisternum were the items used by local communities as part of medicinal (65% of the focus groups) and spiritual (37%) practices. Scales were the most frequently used item (use value index = 1.56). A total of 42 medicinal and spiritual uses, covering 15 International Classification of Diseases (ICD) categories, were recorded among ethnic groups. The ICD and spiritual categories-based analyses of similarity showed a partial overlapping of ethnozoological knowledge across Benin, although knowledge was significantly influenced by ethnicity and geographic location. The pricing of pangolins both varied with the category of stakeholders (local communities vs. stakeholders of TMMs) and clients (local and West African clients vs. Chinese community) and the type of items sold. The Chinese community was reported to only buy pangolins alive, and average selling prices were 3–8 times higher than those to West African clients. Conclusions Our results confirm that pangolins in Africa are valuable and versatile resources for consumption and medicinal / spiritual practices. The pangolin trade in Benin is based on an endogenous and complex network of actors that now appears influenced by the specific, high-valued demand from the Chinese diaspora. Further investigations are required to assess the growing impact of the Chinese demand on the African wildlife trade.

Simple Metacognitive Prompts for Enhancing Student Learning: An Interdisciplinary Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 002205742110172
Author(s):  
Sophia Domokos ◽  
Melissa Huey
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Metacognitive Prompts ◽  
Qualitative Psychology ◽  
Psychology Courses ◽  
Course Material ◽  
Interdisciplinary Study

Short metacognitive prompts—like “minute papers”—are simple enough to be widely adopted by instructors. But do they work? We investigate how they affect college students’ performance in quantitative (Physics) and qualitative (Psychology) courses, comparing classes which received metacognitive prompts to those that did not. We find significant improvement in performance in Psychology and borderline significant improvement in Physics. While the interventions did not raise students’ confidence, interviews with students revealed that the prompts helped them process course material and study for exams. This is one of few studies to directly compare the effectiveness of metacognitive prompts across disciplines.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Ecuadorian indigenous healers on their relationship with the formal health care system: barriers and opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Estefanía Bautista-Valarezo ◽  
Víctor Duque ◽  
Veronique Verhoeven ◽  
Jorge Mejia Chicaiza ◽  
Kristin Hendrickx ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health System ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Barriers And Opportunities

Abstract Background The new paradigm of intercultural policies focuses on rethinking the common public culture. In Ecuador, the “Buen Vivir” plan seeks to incorporate the ancestral medical knowledge, experience and beliefs of traditional healers into the formal health services. This study explores views on the formal health system from the perspective of the healers belonging to the Kichwa and Shuar ethnicities in the South of Ecuador. Methods A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach was performed. Focus groups were conducted in three locations in Southern Ecuador. Shuar, Kichwa and Mestizo ethnic groups were included in the research. Results Eleven focus groups with a total of 110 participants belonging to the Shuar, Kichwa and Mestizo ethnic groups participated in the study. Six themes were created through analysis: 1) conflicts with health professionals, 2) acceptance of traditional healers, 3) respect, 4) work as a team, 5) environment and patient care, and 6) salary and recognition. Conclusion This study indicated the perceived barriers compromising respectful collaboration between health staff and traditional healers from an indigenous perspective. Power inequalities and a historically unidirectional relationship and, in addition, differences in health beliefs, seem to create misunderstandings regarding each other’s approach when faced with health and disease. However, insight in these barriers can create opportunities towards collaboration, which will have a positive effect on patient confidence in one or both systems and support continuity between traditional healers and the formal health system.

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