Cross-Cultural Psychological Assessment: a Cinical Model of Service Delivery

Abstract

Contrary to popular belief, conducting thorough cross-cultural psychological assessments does not simply mean using culture-free or culture-fair tests. It is a highly refined art which demands considerable skill and expertise on the part of the clinician. Pre-requisite knowledge in the fields of cultural anthropology, linguistics, and cross-cultural psychology is often required before appropriate interpretation of assessment results can be made. In the absence of a framework for practise, a practical model is presented which incorporates an experimental, problem-solving and clinical approach to cross-cultural assessment. Several features of this versatile model are discussed in relation to both the assessment and interpretive process. A multidisciplinary strategy that includes both informal and formal assessment methods is advocated. Specific recommendations for future practise are provided, including the need for greater networking among professionals in the variety of disciplines involved in cross-cultural assessment.