The U.S. population is changing, but are individuals and organizations prepared to change with it?

DALLAS, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The 2020 Census reported the presence of 121.6 million multicultural persons in the U.S. – including Latinos, Blacks and Asians – signaling the growing presence of a segment of the population that has contributed significantly to the quality of life in the U.S. while also challenging its tolerance for increasing demographic, linguistic and cultural diversity. Their positive contributions are well documented in terms of increasing consumer spending, business formation, contributions to the Social Security system, intellectual property, and defense of our nation during times of war and conflict. By contrast, challenges to the collective intolerance of our nation for this increasing diversity is clearly observable in terms of elevated hate crimes; continuing segregation in terms of housing, education and social networks; continuing redlining practices in the banking and food industries; and mass violence targeted toward ethnic and religious groups. Ironically, while the presence of multicultural persons has been increasing, our communities remain relatively isolated and uninformed about multicultural persons – a situation that encourages the use of common stereotypes and misperceptions in decisions regarding their quality of life.

For example, past research confirms the disturbing consequences on human behavior when objective knowledge and beliefs about race-ethnic groups are replaced by negative stereotypes and misperceptions:

• Medical residents who held false beliefs about Black patients were more likely to recommend inappropriate pain management therapy compared to white patients.
• A Boston police academy was training police cadets to administer extra doses of pepper spray to Mexican suspects because it was believed that Mexicans had built a resistance due to consuming a lot of hot peppers.
• Hate crimes against Asians have escalated in the U.S. as an outcome of perceptions that they imported COVID-19 into the U.S.
• The mass killing of 23 El Paso residents by a domestic terrorist was motivated by a white conspiracy theory and allegedly told investigators following his arrest that he set out to kill as many Mexicans as he could.

Indeed, it is not difficult to understand how negative stereotypes and incorrect beliefs can encourage the mistreatment and violence towards U.S. Latinos, Blacks and Asians. These behaviors are further reinforced by the collective indifference of educators and Corporate America towards improving essential knowledge about multicultural populations among its college graduates and workforce. The consequences of this collective indifference is also observed in other ways, including:

• Advertisements with the wrong messaging
• Unsuccessful campaign outcomes
• Use of outdated or offensive race-ethnic labels
• Poor customer service
• Product rejection
• Biased research
• Overlooked opportunities

As explained by Dr. Edward T. Rincón, a research psychologist who specializes in multicultural research:
"Traditional screening tools to identify multicultural knowledge or talent are not very useful -- they do not measure multicultural knowledge or beliefs, usually rely instead on a person's cultural background or language skills, or just ignore this dimension altogether."

A team of multicultural experts, organized by Rincon & Associates LLC, believes that their newly developed Multicultural Insights Test™ (MIT) offers some promise to address the dilemma of a workforce with limited knowledge about multicultural persons. The MIT is a diagnostic tool that measures a person's current knowledge and beliefs regarding U.S. Latinos, Blacks and Asians and estimates their readiness to perform certain jobs or tasks with these growing population segments – thus facilitating a more successful experience in education, employment or research studies.

The Multicultural Insights Test™, developed by industry multicultural experts, probes for information in six core areas that represent a sampling of essential knowledge for persons who are currently or planning to be involved in multicultural-focused jobs, campaigns or activities. These six core areas include:

• Demographic Concepts & Trends
• Language Behavior
• History
• Lifestyle
• Beliefs / Perceptions
• Decision Making

During the current test development phase of the MIT which ends April 15, 2022, Rincón & Associates LLC is offering at no cost an individual Test Score Profile generated by the Multicultural Insights Test™. To complete the quiz, visitors are encouraged to use the following link:

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6767864/Multicultural-Insights-Test

The Test Score Profile, a confidential report that test takers receive via email upon completion of the MIT, is likely to benefit several potential users who perceive a need to upgrade their understanding and insights regarding the U.S. multicultural population, including employers, students, faculty members, public agencies, and research professionals. In addition, the information collected will allow the research team to improve the content and design of the MIT.

The Multicultural Insights Test™ (MIT) was developed by the following consortium of leading multicultural experts:

• Edward T. Rincón, Ph.D.: A research psychologist with a 45-year track record of conducting research studies for U.S. private, public and academic institutions. Currently teaches Multicultural Research Methods at The University of Texas at Arlington School of Business. Frequent speaker and writer on multicultural issues related to research and quality of life. He recently published a book "The Culture of Research" that reviews the various sources of bias associated with studies of multicultural populations in the U.S.
• Mandy Sha, MA, PMP®: A research scientist with 20 years of experience transforming knowledge into rapid-response solutions, scientific publications, and international speaking engagements.
• David R. Morse: Founder of the multicultural market research firm, New American Dimension. An advocate for social justice, he is a frequent speaker on race and ethnicity in the United States and known for having worked with some of the most successful companies in America in developing innovative multicultural marketing strategies.
• Dexter Purnell, DBA: .An entrepreneur and educator who enjoys conducting academic research on various topics in the areas of consumer behavior, entrepreneurship and entertainment. He is currently a full-time faculty member in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business at the University of North Texas. He is also a member of the Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the G. Brint Ryan College of Business.
• Jason Greer, MSW, MRIR: Founder and President of Greer Consulting, Inc. (GCI), a Labor Management and Employee Relations Consulting firm located in St Louis. Jason previously served as a Board Agent with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) where he managed private sector labor relations' issues and worked to improve the labor petition filing process.

About Rincon & Associates LLC

Rincón & Associates LLC, based in Dallas, Texas for the past 45 years, specializes in studies of multicultural populations. Dr. Edward T. Rincón, president of Rincón & Associates, is a research psychologist who has taught courses on statistics, mass communications research, Hispanic marketing and multicultural research methods. He is a member of the American Association of Public Opinion Research and an Associate Scholar with the SMU Tower Center for Political Studies.

Social Media Contacts

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-t-rincon-ph-d-b817876/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCultureOfResearch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdRinconPhD

Media Contact

Edward T. Rincon, Ph.D., Rincon & Associates LLC, +1 (214) 750-3800, [email protected]

Mandy Sha, Research Scientiest, [email protected]

SOURCE Rincon & Associates LLC