This article reports the results of a study of the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) used with samples drawn from two non‐Anglo ethnic groups: Hawaiian‐Americans and Japanese‐Americans living in Hawaii. The results showed that the FAD appeared to make appropriate assessments of Hawaiian‐American study participants' families and inappropriate assessments of Japanese‐American study participants' families. Results also suggested that cultural norms regarding family functioning may vary according to socioeconomic status. FAD modifications are