Overview
Each of us brings a specific identity along with us as we interact with other people. While categories including race, gender, culture, and nationality may be the easiest to identify, there are countless other characteristics that shape your identity and inform any potential biases you may encounter. For this assignment, you will write a 5–7 page research paper on your own cultural identity and biases as a future scholar-practitioner.
Preparation
● Using the Cultural Identity Chart Exercise, identify the factors that help you identify yourself. Create a mind map of the elements that make up your cultural identity.
● Read through and reflect on Capella University's Scholar-Practitioner Educational Philosophy [PDF]. This will help you frame your research paper around your role as a doctoral researcher.
● Spend some time in the Capella University Library locating at least four peer-reviewed journal articles to support your findings. In particular, the RSCH7020 Library Research Guide has been created to help you in this course. Explore the different tabs to find the resources you need.
Assignment Instructions
Write a 5–7 page research paper on your cultural identity and biases as a future
scholar-practitioner. Your paper should include:
● An overview of the importance of evaluating one’s own cultural identity and biases as a future scholar-practitioner.
● An analysis of the impact cultural identity and biases have on research. ○ Include a discussion on the role cultural identity in developing your research.
○ Explain the impact that personal bias can have on the outcomes of your research.
● An analysis of self-reflection strategies that can be used to evaluate one’s own cultural identity and biases.
○ Explain the importance of self-reflection in evaluating cultural identity and biases.
○ Then, provide an analysis of the strategies that can be used to address biases in research.
● A conclusion that summarizes the key points of the paper.
Additional Requirements
Your assignment should also meet the following requirements:
● Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
● Resources: Support your work with at least four peer-reviewed scholarly sources.
● APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to APA style and formatting guidelines. Refer to Academic Writer for guidance.
● Length: 5–7 typed, double-spaced pages of content in addition to a title page and references page.
○ Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the
following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
● Competency 1: Evaluate one’s own cultural identity and biases as a future scholar-practitioner.
○ Explain the importance of evaluating one's own cultural identity and biases as a future scholar-practitioner.
○ Analyze self-reflection strategies for evaluating one's own cultural identity and biases.
● Competency 3: Illustrate proper incorporation of multicultural and diversity influences as appropriate in research and publication.
○ Analyze the impact cultural identity and biases have on research.
● Competency 5: Write in accordance with the academic and professional requirements of the discipline, ensuring appropriate structure, grammar, usage, and style.
○ Summarize the key points of the paper.
○ Apply the standard writing conventions for the discipline, including structure, voice, person, and tone.
Here is a little information about me:
My professional background in human resources has significantly shaped my perspective as a future scholar-practitioner. Throughout my career, I have worked in local government, higher education, healthcare, and the private sector, supporting employees and leaders with recruitment, employee relations, benefits administration, leave management, policy interpretation, performance management, and organizational development. These experiences have provided opportunities to work with individuals from diverse cultural, educational, socioeconomic, and professional backgrounds.
Working in human resources has reinforced the importance of fairness, ethical decision-making, and treating every employee with dignity and respect. Many workplace decisions require balancing organizational goals with employee needs while ensuring compliance with employment laws and organizational policies. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to objectivity, confidentiality, and evidence-based decision-making.
At the same time, my professional experiences have made me aware that everyone brings personal perspectives and assumptions into the workplace. As an HR professional, I have learned that approaching situations with preconceived ideas can affect communication, conflict resolution, hiring decisions, and performance evaluations. This awareness has highlighted the importance of self-reflection and cultural humility. Rather than assuming my perspective is the only valid one, I have learned to actively listen, seek multiple viewpoints, and evaluate situations based on facts rather than personal beliefs.
As I continue my doctoral education, these experiences will influence the way I approach research. My background has fostered a strong interest in understanding workplace behavior, employee well-being, leadership, and organizational effectiveness. However, I also recognize that my professional experiences may shape the questions I ask, the interpretations I make, and the conclusions I draw. For that reason, I am committed to engaging in ongoing self-reflection, using scholarly evidence, and applying ethical research practices to minimize bias and ensure my research remains objective, inclusive, and meaningful.