Promoting diversity through program websites: A multicultural content analysis of school psychology program websites.

Abstract

The recruitment of culturally and linguistically diverse students to graduate programs is critical to the overall growth and development of school psychology as a field. Program websites serve as an effective recruitment tool for attracting prospective students, yet there is limited research on how school psychology programs use their websites to recruit diverse students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether school psychology program websites include sufficient levels of diversity-related content critical for attracting diverse applicants. The website content of 250 professional psychology programs (165 school psychology training programs and 85 clinical and counseling psychology programs) were examined for the presence of themes of diversity and multiculturalism that prospective racially/ethnically and linguistically diverse students deem important for selecting a graduate program. Results indicated that school psychology programs had less diversity-related content on their program's website relative to clinical and counseling psychology programs.' Implications for improving recruitment of racially/ethnically and linguistically diverse students through websites are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

An Analysis of College Choice Information Provided on Graduate Program Websites: Implications for Improving Applicant Diversity in Educational Measurement

“…The variable selection process was based on the inclusion of variables identified in the literature based on published website content analyses (primarily conducted within the field of psychology; Bidell et al, 2002;Smith et al, 2016) and studies of college choice for underrepresented ethnic minority applicants. The variable selection process was based on the inclusion of variables identified in the literature based on published website content analyses (primarily conducted within the field of psychology; Bidell et al, 2002;Smith et al, 2016) and studies of college choice for underrepresented ethnic minority applicants.…”

“…Financial considerations may be of particular concern for underrepresented ethnic minority applicants as undergraduate borrowing for Latino and Black students has been found to reduce the chances of their application and enrollment into graduate school, potentially due to their resistance to accumulating additional debt (Malcom & Dowd, 2012). Therefore, programs sharing information about financial costs and support, as well as employment and future earning potential after graduation, can better assist students in weighing the costs and benefits associated with attending graduate school (see Smith et al, 2016). Therefore, programs sharing information about financial costs and support, as well as employment and future earning potential after graduation, can better assist students in weighing the costs and benefits associated with attending graduate school (see Smith et al, 2016).…”

“…Underrepresented ethnic minority students have reported that their college choice process is influenced by concerns of program climate with regard to race (e.g., Ramirez, 2014). Although programs may be limited regarding whether their climate is perceived to be problematic, they can provide information (e.g., by highlighting the focus of multiculturalism within a typical program of study) that may be helpful for underrepresented ethnic minority applicants in assessing fit (see Smith et al, 2016). Although programs may be limited regarding whether their climate is perceived to be problematic, they can provide information (e.g., by highlighting the focus of multiculturalism within a typical program of study) that may be helpful for underrepresented ethnic minority applicants in assessing fit (see Smith et al, 2016).…”

“…The authors noted that with respect to students of color "Departments and programs that had online Web sites describing and advertising their graduate training were enthusiastic in portraying their Web sites as their most important recruitment tool" (p. 147). Smith et al (2016) found that a larger percentage of counseling and clinical programs displayed statements around their commitment to diversity on their websites than school psychology programs. It is important to note, however, that the type of information that a program shares on its website can help to attract or potentially detract potential applicants.…”

A Guided Review of Top-10 Rated Social Work Education Program Websites: Diversity in the Digital Age

“…The current study remains the only of its kind in social work; however, similar research exists (see Smith et al, 2016), illustrating the importance of this topic.…”