The effects of a multicultural awareness program on the multicultural sensitivity and communication behaviors of child welfare managers.
Item
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Title
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The effects of a multicultural awareness program on the multicultural sensitivity and communication behaviors of child welfare managers.
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Identifier
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AAI9417453
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identifier
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9417453
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Creator
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Colon, Edgar.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Michael Fabricant
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Date
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1994
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Education, Bilingual and Multicultural | Social Work | Education, Administration
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Abstract
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The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a management training program entitled, "The Managing and Valuing of Cultural Diversity in Today's Workplace" on participating managers' communication practices and their multicultural awareness. The training program curriculum consisted of four modules that demonstrated how diversity can strengthen organizational development in a child welfare agency. The sample consisted of 21 managers working at a family service agency. They were assessed on communications practices with employees, colleagues, and with supervisors. Multicultural sensitivity in the workplace was assessed through the use of a researcher-constructed survey designed to assess manager sensitivity to the needs and concerns of ethnic minorities, women, homosexuals, elderly, and physically handicapped employees. Participants were assessed prior to the course and immediately upon its conclusion on communication practices and the multicultural sensitivity. Observers were asked to fill out an instrument on their communicative behaviors toward their managers and their managers' communicative behavior toward them at the same time the participants complete their surveys. The major findings of the study were: (1) there were no significant changes in managers' communicative practices or multicultural sensitivity as a result of the intervention; (2) observers reported a decline in communicative openness between pretest and posttest, probably as a result of interpersonal and intergroup conflict that took place during the training; (3) more highly educated managers limited feedback to employees and exposure to supervisors than less highly educated managers; (4) minority managers and younger managers exposed themselves less to their supervisors than did non-minority and older managers; (5) married managers were perceived by employees as providing greater feedback to them than married managers; and multicultural awareness was influenced by changes in communicative practices, and demographic background and social work experience.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy Restricted.xlsx
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degree
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D.S.W.