The desegregation of clinical psychology training.

Abstract

Studied the success of the American Psychological Association in encouraging minority participation in psychology. A questionnaire similar to a 1970 instrument by R. Boxley and N. N. Wagner was sent to the 144 programs offering doctorates in clinical psychology. From an 80% return, results indicate that (a) no significant (p < .01) increase has occurred in student or faculty representation and (b) minority groups as a whole are underrepresented on faculties (p < .001). 75.5% of those responding make special efforts to enroll minority students, with 7.3% of the student population from minorities and an increase (p < .01) in the percentage of minority 1st-yr students when compared to advanced students. While there has been no significant change in minority representation, results indicate the beginning of a change.

The inclusion of culturally sensitive course materials in graduate school and training programs.

“…Boxley & Wagner (1971) found that in the clinical programs surveyed, most of the clinical service training was performed in white middle-class mental health agencies. Padilla et al (1973) also found that graduate clinical training programs were limited in breadth with respect to the inclusion of culturally relevant materials in their curricula. The findings of Bernal & Padilla (1982) indicate that while most clinical training programs agreed with the need to include culturally relevant materials, most were reluctant to do so.…”

Imperatives for ethnic and cultural relevance in psychology training programs.

“…Evidence of representational inequity has been reported consistently (Albee, 1969;Boxly & Wagner, 1971;Kennedy & Wagner, 1979;A. Padilla & Ruiz, 1973;E. Padilla, Boxley, & Wagner, 1973;Parham & Moreland, 1981;Suber, 1977;Wispe et aL, 1969).…”

Minority Faculty Representation and Hiring Practices in Counselor Education Programs

“…Minority underrepresentation in applied psychology has been documented. Native Americans, Asian Americans, blacks, and Hispanics are seriously underrepresented as both students and faculty members in clinical psychology programs (Boxley & Wagner, 1971; Kennedy & Wagner, 1979; Padilla, Boxley, & Wagner, 1973). In 1980, only 5.5% of the faculty in clinical psychology programs and 6.8% of the faculty in counseling psychology programs were ethnic minorities (Russo, Olmedo, Stapp, & Fulcher, 1981).…”