Abstract
Behavior analysts working in countries with a higher rate of migration will inevitably serve families of diverse cultural backgrounds. This is the case in Austria, a country in Eastern Europe with great diversity among its inhabitants. It is very likely that the behavior analyst working in Austria will face potential cultural differences due to the presence of cultural diversity. Although technical competency is important to ensure clients will receive the most effective interventions, it is also essential that providers are aware of and responsive to the cultural context to guarantee that clients’ preferences, based on their values, are incorporated into the intervention plan and its strategies. Barriers to culturally sensitive services might involve the differences between the values and cultural practices of families, as well age differences, and the service provider. To overcome these barriers, the behavior analyst should evaluate their own culture incompetency while practicing cultural humility. This could involve the development of cultural awareness, the acquisition of cultural knowledge, and the emission of culturally responsive behaviors. In this article, we will present an overview of some potential cultural barriers and suggest practical steps to overcome cultural differences during service delivery.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Change history
18 January 2022
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-021-00085-9
References
Adler, N. J. (1997). International dimensions of organizational behavior (3rd ed.). Shout-Western College Publishing.
Allen, K. D., & Warzak, W. J. (2000). The problem of parental nonadherence in clinical behavior analysis: Effective treatment is not enough. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 33(3), 373–391. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2000.33-373
Association for Behavior Analysis International. (2021). Convention archives. https://www.abainternational.org/events/archives.aspx
Beach, M. C., Price, E. G., Gary, T. L., Robinson, K. A., Gozu, A., Palacio, A., Smarth, C., Jenckes, M. W., Feuerstein, C., Bass, E. B., Powe, N. R., & Cooper, L. A. (2005). Cultural competence: A systematic review of health care provider educational interventions. Medical Care, 43(4), 356–373. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mlr.0000156861.58905.96
Beaulieu, L., Addington, J., & Almeida, D. (2019). Behavior analysts’ training and practices regarding cultural diversity: The case for culturally competent care. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12(3), 557–575. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-018-00313-6
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2020). Ethics code for behavior analysts.
Brown, J. C., & Crippen, K. J. (2017). The knowledge and practices of high school science teachers in pursuit of cultural responsiveness. Science Education, 101(1), 99–133. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21250
Clément, E. (2017). Les sciences du langage dans la coopération internationale francobrésilienne. L’interculturel: de la didactique des langues-cultures aux politiques linguistiques – éducatives [Language sciences in the Franco-Brazilian international cooperation. Interculturality: From the didactics of languages and cultures to linguistic-educational policies] [Doctoral dissertation, University of Besançon]. CCSD. https://jeannicod.ccsd.cnrs.fr/STAR/tel-01864647v1
Conners, B., Johnson, A., Duarte, J., Murriky, R., & Marks, K. (2019). Future directions of training and fieldwork in diversity issues in applied behavior analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12(4), 767–776.
Damron-Rodriguez, J. (2008). Developing competence for nurses and social workers. The American Journal of Nursing, 108(9), 40–46. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000336413.83366.e0
Demorgon, J. (2005). Critique de l’interculturel: L’horizon de la sociologie [Criticism of the intercultural: The horizon of sociology]. Economica-Anthropos.
Dennison, A., Lund, E. M., Brodhead, M. T., Mejia, L., Armenta, A., & Leal, J. (2019). Delivering home-supported applied behavior analysis therapies to culturally and linguistically diverse families. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12, 887–889. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00374-1
DeSouza, A. A., & Konrad, M. H. (2021). Behavior analysis and the delivery of services in : A call for dissemination. Behavior and Social Issues. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-021-00050-6
Dillenburger, K., Keenan, M., Gallagher, S., & McElhinney, M. (2002). Autism: Intervention and parental empowerment. Child Care in Practice, 8(3), 216–219. https://doi.org/10.1080/1357527022000040426
Durán, L. K., Hartzheim, D., Lund, E. M., Simonsmeier, V., & Kohlmeier, T. L. (2016). Bilingual and home language interventions with young dual language learners: A research synthesis. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 47, 347–371. 10.1044/2016_LSHSS-15-0030
Freshman, B. (2016). Cultural competency: Best intentions are not good enough. Diversity and +-Equality in Health Care, 13, 240–244. https://doi.org/10.21767/2049-5471.1000e17
Fong, E. H., Catagnus, R. M., Brodhead, M. T., Quigley, S., & Field, S. (2016). Developing the cultural awareness skills of behavior analysts. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9(1), 84–94.
Fong, E. H., Ficklin, S., & Lee, H. Y. (2017). Increasing cultural understanding and diversity in applied behavior analysis. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 17(2), 103.
Fong, E. H., & Tanaka, S. (2013). Multicultural alliance of behavior analysis standards for cultural competence in behavior analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, 8, 17–19. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0100970
Glenn, S. S. (1989). Verbal behavior and cultural practices. Behavior Analysis and Social Action, 7, 10–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03406102
Glenn, S. S. (2004). Individual behavior, culture, and social change. The Behavior Analyst, 27(2), 133–151. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393175
Goujon, A., Jurasszovich, S., & Potancoková, M. (2017). Demographie und religion in Österreich. [Demography and religion in Austria]. Szenarien 2016 bis 2046. ÖIF-Forschungsbericht.
Guerin, B., Guerin, P., Dirriye, R. O., & Yates, S. (2004). Somali conceptions and expectations concerning mental health: Some guidelines for mental health professionals. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 33(2), 59–67.
Guiberson, M., & Ferris, K. P. (2019). Early language interventions for young dual language learners: A scoping review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 28, 945–963. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_AJSLP-IDLL-18-0251
Hernandez, M., Nesman, T., Mowery, D., Acevedo-Polakovich, I. D., & Callejas, L. M. (2009). Cultural competence: A literature review and conceptual model for mental health services. Psychiatric Services, 60(8), 1046–1050. https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.2009.60.8.1046
Hook, J. N., Davis, D. E., Owen, J., Worthington, E. L., & Utsey, S. O. (2013). Cultural humility: Measuring openness to culturally diverse clients. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60(3), 353–366. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032595
International Organization for Migration. (2021). Total number of international migrants at mid-year 2020. Migration Data Portal. https://migrationdataportal.org/?i=stock_abs_&t=2019&m=1
Kornack, J., Cernius, A., & Persicke, A. (2019). The diversity is in the details: Unintentional language discrimination in the practice of applied behavior analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12(4), 879–886. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00377-y
Kunze, M., Drew, C., Machalicek, W., Safer-Lichtenstein, J., & Crowe, B. (2019). Language preference of a multilingual individual with disabilities using a speech generating device. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12(4), 777–781. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00379-w
Leverson, M., Smith, K., McIntosh, K., Rose, J., & Pinkelman, S. (2021). PBIS cultural responsiveness field guide: Resources for trainers and coaches. Center on PBIS, University of Oregon. www.pbis.org
Lozano, J. F., & Escrich, T. (2017). Cultural diversity in business: A critical reflection on the ideology of tolerance. Journal of Business Ethics, 142(4), 679–696.
McGrew, J. H., Ruble, L. A., & Smith, I. M. (2016). Autism spectrum disorder and evidence-based practice in psychology. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 23(3), 239–255. https://doi.org/10.1111/cpsp.12160
Melo, C. M., Castro, M. S. L. B., & De Rose, J. C. (2015). Some relations between culture, ethics and technology in B. F. Skinner. Behavior and Social Issues, 24, 39–55. https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v.22i0.4207
Philippoff, E. (2002). Die Doppelmonarchie Österreich-Ungarn [The dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary]. Presses Univ. du Septentrion.
Purnell, L. S., & Fenkl, E. A. (2019). Transcultural diversity and health care. Handbook for Culturally Competent Care. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21946-8_1
Rivard, M., Millau, M., Mello, C., Clément, C., Mejia-Cardenas, C., Boulé, M., & Magnant, C. (2020). Immigrant families of children with autism disorder’s perceptions of early intensive behavioral intervention services. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-020-09764-8
Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges, m.b.H (2018). Zeitreise [Time travel]. Die Welt der Habsburger. https://www.habsburger.net/de/zeitreise
Skinner, B. F. (1965). Science and human behavior. Macmillan.
Skinner, B. F. (1971). Beyond freedom and dignity. Knopf.
Slocum, T. A., Detrich, R., Wilczynski, S. M., Spencer, T. D., Lewis, T., & Wolfe, K. (2014). The evidence-based practice of applied behavior analysis. The Behavior Analyst, 37(1), 41–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-014-0005-2
St. Amant, H. G., Schrager, S. M., Peña-Ricardo, C., Williams, M. E., & Vanderbilt, D. L. (2018). Language barriers impact access to services for children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(2), 333–340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3330-y
Austria, S. (2020). Bevölkerung zu Jahresbeginn 2002–2020 nach Gemeinden [Population at beginning of year 2002–2020 by municipality]. Retrieved from November, 28, 2020 from https://www.statistik.at
Austria, S. (2021). Bundesländer [States]. Retrieved from June, 14, 2021 from https://www.statistik.at/web_de/klassifikationen/regionale_gliederungen/bundeslaender/index.html
Sugai, G., O’Keeffe, B. V., & Fallon, L. M. (2012). A contextual consideration of culture and school-wide positive behavior support. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 14(4), 197–208. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098300711426334
Tervalon, M., & Murray-Garcia, J. (1998). Cultural humility versus cultural competence: A critical distinction in defining physician training outcomes in multicultural education. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 9, 117–125. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2010.0233
Wang, Y., Kang, S., Ramirez, J., & Tarbox, J. (2019). Multilingual diversity in the field of applied behavior analysis and autism: A brief review and discussion of future directions. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12, 795–804. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00382-1
Wilson, D., Heaslip, V., & Jackson, D. (2018). Improving equity and cultural responsiveness with marginalized communities: Understanding competing worldviews. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(19–20), 3810–3819. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14546
Wolf, M. M. (1978). Social validity: The case for subjective measurement or how applied behavior analysis is finding its heart. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11, 203–214. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1978.11-203
Wright, P. (2019). Cultural humility in the practice of applied behavior analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12, 805–809. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00343-8
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
We have no known conflicts of interest to disclose.
Additional information
The original online version of this article was revised: The surname of the second author was misspelled in the published version. The correct spelling is “De Souza” instead of “Souza.”
The appendix that represented the “Cultural Background Questionnaire” was not included in the published version. It was added afterwards.
The postal address of the first author has been removed for personal data protection reasons.
We apologize for this error.
Appendix
Appendix
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Konrad, MH., De Souza, A.A. Navigating Cultural Differences During the Delivery of Behavior Analysis Services in Austria. Behav. Soc. Iss. 30, 323–342 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-021-00077-9
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-021-00077-9