Culturally Authentic Scaling Approach: A Multi-Step Method for Culturally Adapting Measures for Use with Ethnic Minority and Immigrant Youths

Guerda Nicolas,Angela M Desilva,Clelia Beltrame,Sharon Houlahan

doi:10.5195/jyd.2009.276

Abstract

Given the increasing ethnic and racial diversity of youths in the U.S., researchers must be conscious of how youth are being recruited, retained, and assessed in research programs. In this article, we describe an efficient and replicable methodology, the Culturally Authentic Scaling Approach (CASA), which can be implemented to culturally adapt measures for use with ethnic minority and immigrant youths. Specifically, the steps involved in the CASA method are described, including developing community partnership, evaluating the theoretical equivalence, adjusting the selection and administration of measures. Engaging in an on-going dialogue with the community to increase cultural validity and build community relationships is also discussed. Addressing the cultural validity of measures used with ethnic and immigrant youths enhances the probability that the information obtained will be reflective of the cultural background of the participants and an accurate assessment of their experiences

Highlights

Research on ethnic minority and immigrant populations requires instrumentation that is relevant to culture and sensitive to context (Canino & Bravo, 1994)
This paper provides a review of the development of the Culturally Authentic Scaling Approach (CASA), with a step by step guide on how to use the CASA method to conduct more culturally relevant and equivalent research
Among others, have acknowledged the increasing need to understand and address the needs of ethnic minority and immigrant youths (Alegria, et al, 2004; Mohatt & Thomas, 2006; Trimble & Mohatt, 2006). Despite their noble intent, there continues to be a paucity of cross-cultural research concerning ethnic minority and immigrant youths

Summary

Introduction

Research on ethnic minority and immigrant populations requires instrumentation that is relevant to culture and sensitive to context (Canino & Bravo, 1994). Recent evidence illustrates that research strategies and instruments are most efficacious when compatible with the cultural patterns and experiences of the research participants (Canino & Bravo, 1994; Mezzich et al, 1999). When standardized instruments from mainstream American culture are used with diverse cultural and ethnic groups, there is a risk that the instruments may lack cultural relevance, leading to measurement errors and misinterpretation of findings (Helms, 2006). Despite these findings, most researchers still do not modify research measures to make them more culturally relevant (Nagayama Hall, 2001). This paper provides a review of the development of the Culturally Authentic Scaling Approach (CASA), with a step by step guide (using research examples) on how to use the CASA method to conduct more culturally relevant and equivalent research

Methods

Conclusion