In your course text, Cultural Diversity, you have explored many different written interviews that provide insight into the demographics, worldview, and treatment issues that face different cultures. For this ungraded Assignment, you will complete a virtual or face-to-face dialogue for your Immersion Project to learn more about the culture you chose to focus on. You will need to gather information about the lived experience of a person from the culture you selected. This is called a dialogue (not an interview) because it is not simply a one-sided gathering of information. The dialogue should be a two-sided conversation that results in the exchange of information about cultural experience. This dialogue can happen virtually or in person. It can also happen over time or in a one-time sitting.
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Example: If your culture is Indigenous Australian, topics might be: The impact of community/family structure on decision-making, perspectives on Western medicine vs. traditional healing, and experiences with intergenerational communication.
Draft Open-Ended Questions (A Starting Point): Prepare questions that cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." They should invite narrative and reflection.
| Focus Area | Dialogue Prompt Examples |
| Worldview/Values | "What is the single most important value you feel your culture teaches, and how does that value influence your decisions about your family or career?" |
| Community/Identity | "How has your relationship with your cultural community changed since you were a child, and what aspect of your identity do you feel is least understood by mainstream culture?" |
| Healthcare/Treatment | "When you or a loved one is faced with a difficult health decision, who is typically involved in making that choice, and how does your cultural background shape the trust you place in healthcare providers?" |
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2. Conducting the Dialogue
Approach the conversation with curiosity, empathy, and respect.
| Key Dialogue Strategy | Action |
| Establish Reciprocity | Start by sharing your own intention for the project (e.g., "I want to challenge my own assumptions about X culture, and your perspective will help me be a better nurse"). This signals that the exchange is mutual. |
| Active Listening | Focus entirely on their response. Use non-verbal cues (nodding, eye contact). Avoid interrupting or planning your next question while they are speaking. |
| Follow the Narrative | If they mention a specific event or belief, use follow-up questions to encourage elaboration, instead of immediately moving to your next prepared question. Example: If they mention a specific family tradition, ask, "How do you feel that tradition impacts the mental health of younger generations?" |
| Offer Your Perspective | To ensure it's a two-sided dialogue, occasionally share a brief, relevant reflection on your own culture or experience. Example: "In my culture, we tend to separate aging family members from the children, but it sounds like your community keeps all generations close. What do you see as the greatest benefit of that closeness?" |
| Seek Clarity, Not Judgment | If you hear a term or concept that challenges your understanding, ask for clarification respectfully. Example: "That concept of 'collective well-being' is fascinating. Could you share a concrete example of how that looks in your daily life?" |
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3. Documentation (After the Dialogue)
Immediately after the conversation, write down your reflections. Since this is an ungraded assignment, focus on the insights gained.
Key Takeaways: List 3-5 of the most surprising or impactful statements or concepts shared by your dialogue partner.
Self-Reflection: How did your pre-conceived notions or textbook knowledge align with or differ from the person's lived experience?
Application: How will the information shared directly impact the way you approach patients from this culture in your future nursing practice?
This process ensures you gather rich, personalized information while building a respectful, two-way relationship, fulfilling the "dialogue" requirement of your Immersion Project.
Sample Answer
That sounds like an engaging and valuable part of your Immersion Project! Since this is an ungraded assignment intended to prepare you for the project's dialogue, here is a structured approach to planning and conducting a two-sided conversation (dialogue) about the lived experience of a person from your chosen culture.
Planning and Executing Your Cultural Dialogue
The goal is to move beyond a typical Q&A interview to a genuine dialogue where both participants share and learn, promoting a deeper understanding of the cultural worldview.
1. Preparation (Before the Dialogue)
Before meeting your dialogue partner, you should:
Select Your Partner: Choose an individual who identifies with the culture you are focusing on and is willing to share their personal experiences.
Define the Focus: Based on your course readings (demographics, worldview, treatment issues), choose 3-4 broad topics that relate directly to the culture's influence on daily life or health.