Objective Determine the structure of the Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills Survey-Counselor Edition-Revised (MAKSS-CE-R) and whether it is invariant across groups and over time. Method We used structural equation modeling and data from counseling students (n = 147) as well as students in an interprofessional Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment training (n = 248). Results MAKSS-CE-R responses reflected six factors, suggesting neither three nor a single score sufficiently summarize them. Strong partial invariance held between groups as did strict longitudinal invariance. Synchronous and longitudinal correlations, as well as temporal factor mean changes, further suggest one or a few scores may be insufficient and raise questions about the validity of the awareness subscale. Conclusions Research should further evaluate measures of multicultural counseling competence (MCC) and explore whether the use of too few scores can explain why therapist rated MCC has been uncorrelated with client outcomes. Significance Measures of MCC are key in preparing counselors and other helping professionals to serve diverse clients. Our results suggest too few scores are used to summarize responses to a popular MCC measure, thereby informing future research and providing a potential explanation of the lack of correlation between MCC and client outcomes.
Read full abstract