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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURAL ORIENTATION AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
Title
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURAL ORIENTATION AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
Creator
Rafajko, Sean I.
Date
2016, 2016-07
Description
Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) face a number of disparities in their daily lives. Many of these disparities are the result of...
Show moreIndividuals with intellectual disability (ID) face a number of disparities in their daily lives. Many of these disparities are the result of interactions with people in their environment, including the general public. The behaviors of the general public toward people with ID are linked to the attitudes that they hold. Thus, it is essential to understand what influences these attitudes. Although there has been some research conducted examining how factors such as demographics and level of contact with individuals with ID affect attitudes, there has been only very limited research specifically investigating the impact of cultural factors on attitudes toward individuals with ID. The purpose of this study was to examine the unique contribution of cultural orientation variables as predictors of individuals’ attitudes toward ID using hierarchical regression analyses. Results revealed that for all examined domains of attitudes, cultural orientation accounted for a significant portion of the variance in attitudes toward ID. More specifically, it was found that greater vertical-individualist orientation was associated with more negative attitude towards ID on all domains, while other cultural orientations (horizontal-collectivist, horizontal-individualist, and vertical-collectivist), when significant, were associated with more positive attitudes toward ID. Findings from this study suggest that culture is a relevant area to explore in future research on attitudes toward ID. Further research is needed to understand how these relationships play out especially for specific groups, such as caregivers and clinicians, in order to better understand how cultural orientation can more directly affect the lives of individuals with ID.
M.S. in Psychology, July 2016
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Witnesses with Disabilities in Court: Differences in Mock Jurors' Perceptions of Credibility Between Disability Groups and Juror Factors Associated with Credibility Perceptions
Title
Witnesses with Disabilities in Court: Differences in Mock Jurors' Perceptions of Credibility Between Disability Groups and Juror Factors Associated with Credibility Perceptions
Creator
Stevenson, Rebekah
Date
2019
Description
Individuals with disabilities face multiple barriers and vulnerabilities in society, including violent crime victimization at a rate nearly 2...
Show moreIndividuals with disabilities face multiple barriers and vulnerabilities in society, including violent crime victimization at a rate nearly 2-3 higher than that of the general population. Despite these disproportionately higher rates of victimization, crimes committed against individuals with disabilities rarely result in criminal prosecution and conviction. One possible explanation for such a discrepancy is that jurors perceive individuals with disabilities as less credible witnesses than witnesses from the general population.The present study used a modified Credibility Comparisons Questionnaire to identify differences in potential juror perceptions of credibility between specific disability groups, including witnesses with intellectual disability and witnesses with deafness. Additionally, the study aimed to identify juror characteristics that may be associated with credibility perceptions. The survey was administered to 114 potential jurors recruited through SurveyMonkey Audience. The data were analyzed using a one-way within-subjects ANOVA and multiple regression analyses.The results of the study suggest that potential jurors may perceive witnesses with intellectual disability as less credible overall than witnesses with deafness and typical adult witnesses. Additionally, potential jurors may perceive witnesses with deafness as more accurate and less suggestible than witnesses with intellectual disability and typical adult witnesses. These findings highlight the important role rehabilitation psychologists may play in providing education to legal professionals and jurors regarding a witness’ abilities and limitations, as well as providing techniques to help witnesses compensate for specific deficits so that they are not precluded from testifying in court.
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