Perceived Problem Areas by Black and White Students, Article Critique Example

Background

The difference between the treatments that students from different races receive actually affects the manner by which black and white students gain counseling services. The separation of population number that defines the black students apart from the white students create a specific indication on what specific services are made available for everyone in the school . The distinctive separation of the said individuals based on their color has made several universities around United States rather problematic. However, when the situation on other schools that have relatively colored population have been observed accordingly, the said problems do not affect the learning nor the casual environment of the institution as much as it does in universities where white Americans dominate the population f the school. Relatively, the separation of students’ races identify the environment of the entire university as well which also defines the capacity of the school to provide services that are necessarily important for their target students. In the article of Westbrook and his colleagues, they explore the manner by which the problems of colored schools are relatively different from that of the situation dealt with by the students in institutions with more balanced in terms of colored population. These problems are usually related to comparative counseling needs. Psychological services rendered to students are very important especially in consideration to the need by which the said individuals are given proper guidance especially in relation to the condition by which they are able to face the different challenges that the years of young adulthood presents them with.

Review of Literature

In this particular study, the researchers utilized good references that present particular data that are related to the issue being considered. Most of these references are directed towards social, academic and personal development of the students based on the environments that they are likely involved with. Basing from these references, the researchers were able to find out about the major concerns of students specifically basing on their racial identity. The utilization of the references could then be assumed to be effective and specifically definitive in creating a better source of distinction on what the topic is about as well as what elements could be attributed to be the primary source of the problems coming from such situations. In relation to these references, the authors found out that there are at least seven primary problems that concern black students; these problems include personal identity, academic performance, relationships, autonomy, sexuality, career and other familial and matters not relating to school and personal issues. These specific problems are the ones that are supposed to be given attention to through guidance counseling procedures.

Methodology

To create a synthesis between the review of literature and the methodology used for the research, it could be realized that the researchers tried to at least replicate the studies that were considered by other researchers in the past. Only this time, the authors imposed modern elements that could redefine the results garnered back then. Focused on identifying the problems of the students, the researchers developed a survey that would be sent out to students both white and black. This survey is expected to infer on the most common problems that the students are likely facing in class and even outside the said premises.

Utilizing the instrumentation created and the formulated methodology, the research was able to gain a stable foundation that supports the primary indications and claims that came from the references they have utilized in the review section. Gaining inference from black and white students directly provides the methodology a good source of value that identifies its worth in line with the hypothesis of the study relating to how the problems of the students [regardless of their race] are being given attention to by the guidance counselors of the institutions where they are enrolled in.

Results and Analysis

Through the utilization of MANOVA approach in measuring the yielded results of the methodology, the researchers were able to define the path that their procedures of inference has brought them into. Through this process, they were able to create a grouped differentiation of the primary problems that their participants are likely enduring in consideration with the age-range that they are enjoined with. It has been realized through analysis then that the problems faced by students coming from the black race and are enrolled in an institution dominated by white students are much more devastating and are more influential compared to those enrolled in schools with ‘colored’ population. In the discussion section, the inter-correlation between the review of literature, the methodology, and the analysis of results have been made even more solid. The distinction of the different problems and how they are defined through psychology made the research more dependable in terms of reliability. It could be realized that MANOVA provided a good source of analysis that defined the inner sense of the effect that environment and racial pressure had on the being of the black American students. In this case then, it could be assumed that the guidance counselors would have more clients [students] coming from the black American sector of their school’s population. However, rates define otherwise. Most often than not, it is the white Americans who get first hand service and constant attention in relation to their situations and problems.

Final Reflection

Overall, it could be assumed that the rate of inference regarding the problems realized by black Americans are likely caused by the pressured that they get from the society that they are living in. The people they mingle with, especially coming from the other race, affect their personal perceptions and the manner by which they see themselves as individuals. Considerably, it could be analyzed that through the results that were garnered from this study, it was shown how that the environment has a great contribution to how the modern society is able to create a visualization of who they are, what they are and how they are likely to embrace the future. For students who are currently undergoing specific adolescent stage problems, these issues become more than just a challenge. For a fact, these problems begin to define their being all throughout their years towards their adulthood. Relatively though, it could be understood that even though it has been evidently true that the problems become more aggravated on the part of the black Americans, they still do not get the ample attention that they need to be helped from experiencing such conditions in life. Honing their capacity to think about these problems and deal with them accordingly would provide them better choices and better chances in embracing new opportunities in life amidst all the discrimination that they might be experiencing because of their race. It could be realized then that through this specific study, it has been realized how students become more and more affected by the society that they are living in [regardless of their race] and this problem should not be set aside as it establishes the foundation of a future society.

References:

Westbrook, F.D. (et al). Perceived Problem Areas by Black and White Students and Hints About Comparative Counseling Needs. Journal of Counseling Psychology 1978, Vol. 25, No. 2,11^-123.

Ata, R. N., Ludden, A., & Lally, M. M. (2007). The effects of gender and family, friend, and media influences on eating behaviors and body image during adolescence”. Journal Of Youth And Adolescence 36(8), 1024–1037.

Harter, S. (1990). Identity and self development. In S. Feldman & G. Elliot (Eds.), At the threshold: The developing adolescent, pp. 352–387. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Jordan A., Cole D. (1996). “Relation of depressive symptoms to the structure of self-knowledge in childhood“. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 105 (4): 530–540.