It is important to identify and understand your own family culture in order to be able to understand and respect other cultures. Interview a family member, and an individual from another culture with which you are unfamiliar. Some examples of an individual from another culture to consider for the assignment include a neighbor, coworker, patient, or friend. Please inform the individuals of the purpose of this assignment and make sure you receive their consent.

Written Paper:

Using the “Family Interview ” template, interview your designated family member and the person from another culture. Be sure to write your responses in a way that will assist you in writing your paper. After the interview is completed, write a paper of 750-1,000 words that includes the following:

An introductory paragraph with the reasons for selecting the interviewees
A summary of the responses from the interview template gathered from the interviewees
A comparison and contrast of your findings between the two interviewees
A reflective concluding paragraph on how family roles affect the cultural domains and relationships for each individual

General Requirements:

Submit both the completed “Family Interview” template and the written paper” to the instructor.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

This assignment is designed to help you better understand your own family culture while also developing cultural awareness and respect for individuals from different backgrounds. The following step-by-step guide will help you organize your interviews, complete the required template, and write a clear, reflective paper that meets all assignment expectations.

Step 1: Select and Contact Your Interviewees

You will interview two individuals:

One family member who can speak about your family’s values, roles, and traditions
One individual from a culture unfamiliar to you, such as a neighbor, coworker, friend, or patient

Before beginning:

Clearly explain the purpose of the assignment
Obtain verbal consent from both individuals
Choose interviewees who are willing to answer thoughtfully and honestly

Step 2: Complete the “Family Interview” Template

Use the Family Interview template provided in the course:

Ask each question exactly as written in the template
Record responses in detail, using full sentences
Write responses clearly so they can be easily referenced when writing your paper

Avoid short or vague answers—detailed responses will make the writing portion much easier.

Step 3: Plan the Structure of Your Paper

Your paper should be 750–1,000 words and include the following sections:

Introduction
Summary of interview responses
Comparison and contrast
Reflective conclusion

Follow APA formatting guidelines. An abstract is not required.

Step 4: Write the Introduction

In your introductory paragraph:

Briefly introduce the purpose of the assignment
Explain why you selected each interviewee
Mention the importance of understanding family culture to better respect other cultures

This sets the context for your analysis and reflection.

Step 5: Summarize the Interview Responses

In this section:

Summarize key responses from both interviewees
Focus on family roles, traditions, beliefs, communication styles, and relationships
Present information objectively without comparison yet

Organize this section clearly so the reader understands each interviewee’s cultural background.

Step 6: Compare and Contrast the Findings

Next, analyze similarities and differences between the two interviews:

Family roles and responsibilities
Cultural values and traditions
Communication patterns
Expectations within family relationships

Use specific examples from the interviews to support your comparisons.

Step 7: Write a Reflective Conclusion

In your concluding paragraph:

Reflect on how family roles influence cultural domains and relationships
Discuss what you learned about your own family culture
Explain how this experience increased your cultural awareness and sensitivity

This section should be thoughtful and personal while remaining academically appropriate.

Step 8: Final Review and Submission

Before submitting:

Proofread for clarity, grammar, and APA formatting
Ensure both the completed Family Interview template and the written paper are included
Review the rubric to confirm all criteria are met
Submit the assignment to LopesWrite as required

Helpful Resources

You may find these resources useful while completing this assignment:

APA Style Guide (Student Success Center)
https://apastyle.apa.org
Cultural Competence in Healthcare (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/culturalcompetence
Family Roles and Culture Overview (NIH)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Writing Reflective Papers (Purdue OWL)
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing

Understanding Family Culture Through Interview and Reflection