Issues in Testing and Assessment in Cross-Cultural Counseling

A survey of several major issues and problems associated with testing and assessment across cultural or ethnic boundaries is presented. Included, for example, are brief discussions of such issues as levels of equivalence, nonverbal communication, expectations and beliefs, client-counselor similarities, test bias, and response styles. The presentation is intended for counselors who are not very familiar with either cross-cultural methodological problems or the major obstacles hindering more effective assessment during cross-cultural counseling and psychotherapy. In addition, three very popular tests-the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, the Thematic Apperception Test, and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test- are used to highlight some of the issues and problems in cross-cultural assessment.