Ethnographic Interviewing: Assessment Strategies for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Needs – Carol Westby

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How do you know if you’re asking the right questions, to elicit the most pertinent information?

As clinicians, you must not only understand your clients’ impairment/disability but also see the world through their eyes.

In this recording, Dr. Carol Westby will explain how information gained through ethnographic interviewing – asking the right questions to the right person in the right way – can enable you to design assessments and interventions to meet your clients’ needs and goals.

You will learn how to conduct an ethnographic interview and analyze the information gained to:

• Identify barriers to client’s participation
• Convey respect
• Promote reciprocity
• Encourage responsiveness to the clients’ or families’ perspective

Ethnographic interviews can be used with all clients and their families and are critical when you don’t share their cultural/linguistic background. Video demonstrations are woven throughout the presentation to show the types of questions/interactions.

Participants will be able to:

1. Assess the role of ethnographic interviewing in evidence-based practice and the International Classification of Functioning.
2. Conduct an ethnographic interview to inform the clinician’s choice of treatment.
3. Analyze interview data to establish intervention goals and objectives to improve client engagement.

Foundations for Clinical Assessment and Intervention

• Evidence-based practice (EBP) framework
• International Classification of Functioning framework

Ethnographic Question Types – Asking the Right Question in the Right Way

• Descriptive questions to help clients describe experiences, daily activities, objects, and people
  • Grand tour and mini tour
  • Example, experience, and native language
• Structural questions to determine relationships among ideas

Building Rapport

• Stages of rapport
• Problematic questions
• Questioning that facilitates rapport

Social Dimensions

• What they are
• Why to identify

Analyzing the Interview Data

• Domain analysis
  • Identifying barriers and facilitators
  • Determining strengths and needs
• Setting goals and objectives

Video demonstrations are woven throughout presentation to show the types questions/interactions