RATING OF COUNSELORS AND EXPECTATIONS AS A FUNCTION OF CONCEPTUAL SYSTEM, INTERVIEW STRUCTURE, AND COUNSELOR INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS

STEPHEN SYLVESTER CRAIG, Fordham University

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between clients' conceptual system, degree of structure, expectations, interpersonal effectiveness of the counselor, and the ratings given the counselors. Hypotheses were derived from personality and counseling theory. Structure was determined by situation specific criteria. The This I Believe Test was utilized to assess conceptual system. The Expectations About Counseling Questionnaire (Form B) was utilized to determine expectations. The Counselor Rating Form (Form S) was utilized to rate the counselors. The Rating Scale for Helper Responses was utilized to determine the counselors interpersonal effectiveness. The final sample included 60 interviews conducted at college counseling centers, as well as in graduate level practicum classes. It was hypothesized that conceptual system would interact with structure to predict counselor ratings. It was also hypothesized that conceptual system groups would demonstrate different expectation. Means, standard deviations, correlation coefficients, t -tests, one-way analysis of variance, post hoc comparisons, discriminant analysis, simple and multiple regression were employed to analyze the data. Results indicated that the interaction of conceptual system with structure was not able to predict ratings of the counselors. The best predictor was the counselors' level of academic training. None of the other variables improved the prediction. Counselors with the highest level of academic training conducted the most structured interviews while demonstrating the highest level of interpersonal effectiveness. Conceptual systems II and IV were differentiated from system III by expressed patterns of expectations. There was no relationship between interpersonal effectiveness and ratings of the counselors. Conceptual and methodological issues were discussed in an effort to integrate the findings with past research in person-environment and counseling process. The effect of the interaction between conceptual system and structure may become apparent when actual counseling interviews are used exclusively. Additional research concerning the Counselor Rating Form (Form S) (Corrigan & Schmidt, 1983) was suggested.

Subject Area

Academic guidance counseling

Recommended Citation

CRAIG, STEPHEN SYLVESTER, "RATING OF COUNSELORS AND EXPECTATIONS AS A FUNCTION OF CONCEPTUAL SYSTEM, INTERVIEW STRUCTURE, AND COUNSELOR INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS" (1987). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI8725671.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI8725671

Share

COinS