Neophyte Counselor Attire and College Student Perceptions of Expertness,Trustworthiness, and Attractiveness

Strong (1968) proposed that counseling can be viewed as a two-phase process. During the first phase, counselors use various techniques to enhance client perceptions of counselor expertness, trustworthiness, and attractiveness. These perceptions result in influence-power and have an effect on outcome. According to Strong, clients use reputational, behavioral, and evidential cues to assess counselor credibility and attractiveness. Previous research has indicated, however, that counselor attire is not used as an evidential cue when counselors display expert verbal and nonverbal behavior. It was hypothesized that counselor attire is an evidential cue for expertness, trustworthiness, and attractiveness of the inexperienced neophyte counselor-in-training. To test this hypothesis college students participated in group counseling sessions with either a formally or informally attired neophyte counselor. It was found that the informally attired counselor was perceived as more expert, trustworthy, and helpful.     

Research on client perceptions and expectations: Client Perceptions of Counselors' Nonverbal Behavior: A Reevaluation

The purpose of this audiovisual counseling study was to determine if variations in counselor nonverbal behavior result in enhanced or debilitated perceptions of counselor expertness, attractiveness, trustworthiness, and helpfulness. Three groups of participants rated the perceived expertness, attractiveness, trustworthiness, and helpfulness of a counselor emitting nonverbal behavior at a high, moderate, or low frequency. In addition, a fourth group rated the perceived expertness, attractiveness, trustworthiness, and helpfulness of the counselor role. Results indicate that: (a) low frequency counselor nonverbal behavior results in debilitated perceptions of counselors; (b) the counselor role is perceived as moderately expert, attractive, trustworthy, and helpful; and (c) compared with the counselor role, high frequency counselor nonverbal behavior does not enhance the perceived expertness, attractiveness, trustworthiness, and helpfulness of counselors. Implications for counseling practice, theory, and research are discussed.     

Effect of Experimentally Induced Sets of High and Low ‘Expertness' During Brief Vocational Counseling

A study was designed to evaluate the effects of an experimentally induced set of “expertness” on clients' evaluations of their selected experiences during brief vocational counseling. Thirty-one college freshman males were randomly assigned to two induced sets of high and low expertness, and client responses to both quantitative and qualitative aspects of the interview were obtained. The results suggested that (a) clients responded more favorably to relationship aspects of the interview with a counselor who was introduced as a nonexpert than with a counselor who was introduced as an expert, (b) informational recall was greater for clients interviewed by the expert counselor, and (c) global ratings of counselor effectiveness did not differentiate between expert and nonexpert counselors. Implications for counselor training and counselor practice are discussed.     

Effects of Verbal and Vocal Cues of Counselor Self-Confidence on Clients' Perceptions

The authors found that vocal—but not verbal—cues of counselor self-confidence were related to client perceptions of expertness, attractiveness, trustworthiness, and associated satisfaction.     

Effects of Supervisor Social Influence,Nonverbal Immediacy,and Biological Sex on Subordinates' Perceptions of Job Satisfaction,Liking, and Supervisor Credibility

This study investigated the impact of supervisor biological sex, power use, and nonverbal immediacy on subordinates' satisfaction, liking for the supervisor, and perceptions of the supervisors' credibility. After viewing video scenarios of male and female supervisors engaging in nonverbally immediate (or nonimmediate) and prosocial (or antisocial) power use, subordinates reported perceptions of satisfaction, affect, and credibility. Results of the 2 × 2 × 2 experimental design indicated significant main effects for supervisor prosocial power and nonverbal immediacy. Although there were interaction effects, the variance accounted for was minimal. Supervisor prosocial power use and nonverbal immediacy were positively and significantly related to subordinates' self-reported satisfaction, liking for the supervisor, and work enjoyment. Supervisor biological sex did not show a relationship to any of the criterion variables. This study demonstrates that supervisors should maintain nonverbal immediacy and frame prosocial-type messages to preserve their credibility in the workplace.     

Comparative Perceptions of Practicum Counselor Behavior

Nineteen counseling interviews were rated by the respective clients, counselors, and supervisors on the Counselor Rating Form; these ratings of perceived counselor expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness were compared in a repeated measures analysis of variance. Results indicated that all three sources of perceptions were similar, although counselors rated their own behavior as significantly less expert than their clients. The article discusses the results in terms of their relevance to counselor supervision and training.     

The Relationship between Supervisory Behaviors and Perceived Supervisor Expertness,Attractiveness, or Trustworthiness

This study examined relationships between (a) various supervisor behaviors and (b) trainee perceptions of supervisor expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness. Results are presented and future research discussed.     

Three Counselor Training Models: A Comparative Study

This study investigated the effects of three prepracticum counselor training approaches on counselor performance: T group, behavioral skills, and discussion control. Pre- and postmeasures consisting of 30-minute video-recorded counseling interviews were administered to all subjects. Counselor performance was evaluated by client completion of the Counseling Evaluation Inventory (CEI) and by three trained judges' ratings of four five-minute interview segments using the Counseling Strategies Checklist (CSC). Data from each instrument were subjected to a 3 × 2 factorial analysis of variance. A significant group × time interaction occurred for the CEI. Significant time effects occurred on four of the seven dependent variables of the CSC. The results of the study have implications for both the length and type of training approach used in effective counselor education practices.     

Effects of “Like Type” Sex Pairings between Applicants–Principals and Type of Focal Position Considered at the Screening Stage of the Selection Process

This study addresses the screening decisions for a national random sample of high school principals as viewed from the attraction-similarity theory of interpersonal perceptions. Independent variables are the sex of principals, sex of applicants, and the type of focal positions sought by hypothetical job applicants (teacher or counselor). Dependent variables are principals’ assessments of job candidates’ skills on specific job related criteria and the perceived probability of extending job candidates an interview opportunity. Principals’ assessments of hypothetical applicants were cast into a 2×2×2 completely crossed factorial design and were analyzed through a stepdown analysis of variance procedure. By approaching selection as a process, these results fit within the tenets as suggested by the attraction-similarity paradigm. Similar sex pairings between principals and applicants were more likely to be extended interview offers than dissimilar sex pairings regardless of the focal position under consideration.This research was supported in part by the University of California Educational Research Center (UCERC). Contents of this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of UCERC.     

Counselor Trainees' Perceptions of Clients Based on Client Sexual Orientation

In this analog study, the authors examined how client sexual orientation, counselor trainee homophobia, and counselor trainee gender affected counselor trainees' (N = 162) assignment of positive and negative adjectives to clients. A series of multiple regression analyses revealed that client sexual orientation, counselor trainee gender, and counselor trainee homophobia significantly predicted counselor trainees' perceptions of clients. Implications for counselor training and research are discussed.     

Changes in the Perception of the Counselor: Self,Ideal Self,and Self as Judged by Peers

Thirty counseling practicum students' perceptions of self as counselor, ideal counselor, and self as counselor as perceived by other practicum students were measured by the semantic differential technique before and after the supervised practicum experience. Posttest perceptions of self as counselor, ideal counselor, and ratings by other practicum group members were significantly closer to the hypothetical model counselor than were the pretest ratings.     

School Counselor Supervisors' Perceptions of the Discrimination Model of Supervision

The authors examined 38 school counselor supervisors' perceptions of the Discrimination Model (DM; Bernard, 1979, 1997) of supervision, replicating and extending Ellis and Dell's (1986) investigation of the DM with mental health counselor supervisors. Participants judged the dissimilarity of each unique combination of roles and foci of the DM. The authors conducted a confirmatory multidimensional scaling analysis to compare the implicit dimensions and constructs that school counselor and mental health counselor supervisors used to make decisions. Results suggested partial similarities in the conceptual maps of school counselor and mental health counselor supervisors. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Effects of information on perceptions of stimulant medication efficacy for treatment of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder

A study on the perceptions of stimulant medications prescribed for children with attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) was conducted. Students, enrolled in introductory level psychology courses at a midwestern university participated voluntarily in the study (N= 36). After viewing a video that simulated the feelings a child with AD/HD experiences, participants were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. The popular information group read an article on AD/HD similar to that which is most often presented to the public. This article included personal testimonials and lacked a discussion of side effects and areas where the medications have not been demonstrated to be efficacious. The scientific information group read a page of information that was compiled from the scientific literature and included both the positive effects, side effects, and areas where the medication has not been demonstrated to be efficacious. All participants then completed a questionnaire regarding their perceptions of the efficacy of the medications. A second scale measured participants' likelihood of recommending the use of stimulant medications for children with suspected AD/HD. Two 2×2 between‐subjects ANOVA's were employed. There were main effects for the type of article that was read, but no main effects for gender of participant. No significant interactions were found. There were no differences found between the gender of participants and their perceptions of stimulant medications based on the reading material presented to them. However, the type of information presented to the participants did influence their view of the efficacy of stimulant medications. In addition, the type of reading material also influenced the participants' view of the safety and recommended use of stimulant medications prescribed for children with AD/HD. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effects of Client Race‐Ethnicity on Perceptions of Counselor Trainees: Study 1 and Study 2

The authors investigated the impact that racial stereotypes have on counselor trainees' perceptions of the attributes and behaviors of ethnically diverse male clients. Two studies were conducted in which participants were counselor trainees (Study 1, N = 58; Study 2, N = 75) who received a case study in which a male student sought counseling for problems affecting his school work. No differences were revealed in Study 1. In Study 2, counselor perceptions of client attributes differed across client race–ethnicity. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for training counselors, particularly regarding multicultural courses and workshops.     

Counselor Comfort,Counseling Climate,and Client Satisfaction: Client Ratings and Academic Improvement

This study examined client perceptions of counselor comfort, counseling climate, and client satisfaction as measured by the CEI relative to counselors described as high-effective or low-effective in terms of changes in client academic performance before and after group counseling. The results indicated that the client's perception of the comfort of the counselor in a group setting is significantly related to counselor effectiveness as measured by GPA change. The overall counseling climate and the client's estimate of his satisfaction were found not to be related to counselor effectiveness.     

Doctoral Counselor Education Students' Levels of Research Self‐Efficacy,Perceptions of the Research Training Environment,and Interest in Research

Counselor educators are called to be effective researchers; however, limited study has investigated research constructs within counselor educators‐in‐training. This study investigated the levels of research self‐efficacy (Greeley et al., 1989), perceptions of the research training environment (Gelso, Mallinckrodt, & Judge, 1996), and interest in research (Bishop & Bieschke, 1994) within a sample of counselor education doctoral students (N = 89). Doctoral students in their 3rd year of preparation had higher research self‐efficacy scores than did 1st‐ and 2nd‐year students. Additionally, higher research self‐efficacy was associated with higher interest in research and scholarly publication experience. Implications for counselor education are discussed.     

Counselor Educators and Qualitative Research: Affirming a Research Identity

The lack of enthusiastic research activity among counseling professionals has been a subject of professional concern for the last 2 decades. Many graduates of counselor education programs are not connected to academic research and do not establish a research identity. Qualitative research methods have the potential for creating this connection for some students. To increase understanding of the nature and potential usefulness of this paradigm for increasing counselors' connection to academic research, the authors conducted a phenomenological study to investigate the experiences of counselor education doctoral students as they encountered qualitative research. Students' positive responses were summarized as they reflected 4 themes: worldview congruence, theory and skills congruence, research identity and professional viability, and holistic nature of perceptions and experiences.     

Predicting the Grades of Low-Income–Ethnic-Minority Students From Teacher-Student Discrepancies in Reported Motivation

The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of discrepancies between teachers' perceptions of students' motivation and students' reports of their motivation on math and English grades and to identify possible gender and ethnic differences. Participants included 215 low-income, ethnic-minority students and their teachers in academically struggling schools. Discrepancy in motivation ratings accounted for a significant amount of variation in final grades. This teacher-student discrepancy effect was larger than both the effect of students' recent standardized test scores and the effect of self-efficacy in both subjects. Girls were found to attract positive teacher bias, but their grades were not differentially affected. Differences in teacher-student discrepancy effects between African American and Latino students were not found.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLIENT AGE AND COUNSELOR TRAINEES’ PERCEPTIONS OF PRESENTING PROBLEMS,THERAPEUTIC METHODS,AND PROGNOSES

Research has indicated that counselor perceptions of older adults may influence therapeutic methods. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between client age and counselors’ perceptions of presenting problems, severity of problems, prognoses, and use of therapeutic techniques. Recommendations for client‐counselor compatibility were also evaluated. Counselors were presented with introductory counseling situations that varied by age of client. Participants were then asked to complete questionnaires designed for the purposes of the study variables. Results indicated a significant relationship between the age of the client and the recommended age of the counselor. Other significant differences included therapeutic strategies employed and number of client problems identified. Implications for counselor education are discussed.     

Another Look at Counselor,Client, and Supervisor Ratings of Counselor Effectiveness

The purpose of the study was to compare the perceptions of counselors, clients, and supervisors with regard to the effectiveness of counseling. The Counseling Evaluation Inventory (CEI) was used as a measure of counseling effectiveness, using client satisfaction as a criterion. 25 graduate student counselors provided self-ratings on the CEI. Additional CEI ratings of these counselors were obtained from 120 of their clients and their practicum supervisors. The counselor self-ratings and the supervisors' ratings were significantly correlated with each other, but neither was significantly correlated with the client CEI ratings. In addition, the client CEI ratings were significantly higher than both the counselor self-ratings and the supervisors' ratings.