Understanding Race Discussions in Clinical Psychology
Research type
Research Study
Full title
White Clinical Psychologists' Construction of Race
IRAS ID
274670
Contact name
Meltem Osman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Plymouth
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
In the UK research suggests that clinical psychology services are currently inadequate at meeting the needs of black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) individuals, with worse access, treatment and outcomes reported. The clinical psychology profession is predominantly made up of white people. Some of the factors identified as contributing to the problems faced by BAME people include a lack of understanding, ability, and willingness of white clinicians to address and work with issues of racism and racial power difference. These concerns are echoed by BAME psychologists who report feeling marginalised and experiencing racism from white colleagues. This qualitative research therefore aims to look at how white clinical psychologists talk about race. This will enable an exploration of how their accounts might affect power relations with others, whether there are limits in the range of explaining ideas around race which may carry with it inherent prejudice. A focus group design will be used, with 6 groups of 4-5 clinical psychologists, each lasting 1 hour. The focus groups will be audio and video recorded. A method of analysis called critical discursive psychology will be used to identify common phrases used and how participants represent ideas around race.
REC name
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REC reference
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