Cultural sensitivity: Problems and solutions in applied and preventive intervention

Applied and preventive intervention research must consider cultural diversi ty as a matter of course, not only for reasons of social justice, ethical a cceptability, and effectiveness, but given major historical and demographic changes in the United States. This article raises several issues commonly encountered in such research-from key conceptual issues surrounding the con struct of race, ethnicity, culture, and minority status, to the conceptuali zation, design, recruitment, measurement, delivery, data analysis, interpre tation, and dissemination of an intervention-and suggests possible solution s aimed at fostering genuine cultural sensitivity while satisfying the dema nds of rigorous scientific inquiry. This article is not a guide to the do's and don'ts of cultural sensitivity, but rather an attempt to stimulate dis cussion in an area that should be of concern to all psychologists intereste d in applied and preventive intervention.