Correlates of perceived multicultural competence: experience and ethnic identity

Thesis (M.A., Psychology) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2010.This study examined experience and ethnic identity as correlates of multicultural competence in a group of 150 graduate school students attending California State University, Sacramento. The results show ethnic identity and experience to be significant predictors of the Multicultural Knowledge subscale of the California Brief Multicultural Competence Scale (CBMCS; Gamst et al., 2004), and experience to be a significant predictor of the Non-Ethnic Ability subscale. The Sensitivity to Consumers and Awareness of Cultural Barriers subscales were not significantly predicted by any of the variables of interest. Further analysis show significant compositional differences between respondents identified as European American and those identified as an Ethnic Minority or Multiracial. Reliability for three of the four subscales was good, with adequate reliability on the fourth. Divergent validity for the CBMCS was evidenced through use of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (Crowne & Marlowe, 1960). Findings are discussed.Psycholog