Encouraging Counselor Trainee Affective Group Behavior by Social Modeling

Can the planned social modeling of affective, group-focused, personal responses significantly increase such group behaviors in counselor trainees? In the study reported here 32 counselor trainees were randomly assigned to four practicum discussion groups: two video social model groups, one video lecture group, and one discussion group (eight in each group). Pre- and post-response frequencies were analyzed from audiotapes of the counseling groups to study type of delivery, content, process, and focus. Social modeling treatment significantly increased the response frequencies on all measures, while insignificant changes were generally found for the video lecture and group discussion treatments. Questions about social modeling variables and the usefulness of planned modeling in training are considered.     

USE OF OPTICALLY SCORED TEST ANSWER SHEETS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN

By testing a sample of 840 school children from an urban school district, the authors examined the practical limitations of the use of an optically scored answer sheet. The independent variables were grade (two through nine) and degree of instruction and practice (three levels). The dependent variable was the number of easy items (embedded within a set of ordinary test items) that were correctly answered. The easy items, which were different for the various grades, were selected because other children, comparable to those used in the experiment, were able to answer them virtually without error when answering on a test booklet rather than on the answer sheet. The findings indicated that students in grades two and three, in the fall of the year, were unable to make valid responses. Students in grades four and five seemed able to make valid responses only after receiving specific instructions and a practice session. Above grade five, students made valid responses regardless of the types of instructions they received.     

CRITERION-REFERENCED TESTING: COMMENTS ON RELIABILITY1

Currently there is concern among some educators regarding the reliability of criterion-referenced (CR) measures. In this comment, a recent attempt to develop a theory of reliability for CR measures is examined, and some considerations for determining the reliability of CR measures are discussed. Conventional reliability statistics (e.g., coefficient alpha, standard error of measurement) are found appropriate for CR measures satisfying the assumptions of the measurement model underlying classical test theory. For measures with underlying multidimensional traits, conventional reliability statistics may be used at the homogeneous subscale level. When the confidence interval about a student's “below criterion score” includes the criterion, additional evidence about the student should be obtained. Two-stage sequential testing is suggested as one method for acquiring additional evidence.     

Training Counselors to Work with Disabled Clients: Cognitive and Affective Components

This study examines the relationship of cognitive complexity, counselor anxiety, and client disability condition to accurate empathy on the part of students in training. A sample (n = 28) of students in a graduate counseling program observed a series of eight vignettes of counseling interviews (four clients with disabilities and four without disabilities) and reported a verbal counseling response to a client statement. A significant main effect was found for the cognitive complexity variable only (p < .05). A significant interaction among cognitive complexity, anxiety, and client disability condition (p < .01) indicated that all three factors interact to influence empathy. Implications for research and the training of counselors are discussed.     

The healthcare advertising landscape

A survey of the various categories of advertising spend in the United States in the healthcare market is reported upon and the position of the publishing industry within that is described.     

Following the ACES Standards on Preparation of Secondary School Counselors in Career Guidance

Standards for counselor training have been a topic of concern since the 1930s. More recent accomplishments toward quality in counselor education were the adoption of ACES standards at the 1967 Dallas convention and the special issue of Counselor Education and Supervision, “Up-Grading Guidance Practices” (Hill & Munger 1968). This article concentrates on the career guidance and occupational information aspects of the 1967 ACES Standards. In this context, the degree to which some counselor education programs seem to emulate practices contained in the standards and some suggestions for facilitating such emulation are discussed.     

A Look at Counselor Education Programs in Light of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

The fundamental objective of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is to prohibit discrimination against all handicapped individuals attempting to participate in any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. Therefore, this act has had a major impact on most institutions of higher education. Counselor education programs at these institutions are specifically affected in areas related to admission and treatment of handicapped students. A recent U.S. Supreme Court case is helpful in establishing guidelines for the application of Section 504 to these counselor education programs.     

Generalization of Microcounseling Skills from Training Period to Actual Counseling Setting

This study attempted to measure the generalization of the counseling skills learned via the microcounseling paradigm to the actual counseling setting. Twenty practicum counselors were assigned to two groups: (a) experimental group, training focused on the microcounseling skills of attending behavior, reflection of feeling, and summarization of feeling and (b) control group, no training. Measurements of the microcounseling skills were obtained at four intervals: (1) pretraining, (2) posttraining, (3) counseling session I, and (4) counseling session II. Results indicated that experimental subjects evidenced greater learning and retention of skills in reflection of feeling and summarization of feeling. There were no significant differences between subjects on attending behavior skills. Results are discussed with implications for training counselors via the microcounseling paradigm.     

A Proposed Internship Model for Students in Counselor Education or Supervision

An internship model is presented for graduate students in counselor education or counselor supervision, particularly those at the doctoral level. The author contends that the internship is a relatively neglected but singularly vital component of graduate training. The author's model proposes five behavioral and interrelated dimensions of intern involvement in the field agency: meetings, observations, conferences, consultations and program evaluations. The article also discusses problems associated with internships, including planning and funding responsibilities as well as the need for defining the internship in behaviorally explicit terms.     

The Potential of a Methodology for University-wide Multimedia and Educational Technology Evaluation

This paper reports on the methodology used for a review conducted at the University of Melbourne to determine the impact on teaching, learning and student study habits of multimedia and educational technology. Of particular methodological interest among the multiple components of the review was a quasi-controlled study of student attitudes towards and experiences of using educational technology. These were gathered using a targeted student sample comprising students known to have studied units in which well-established and highly peer rated IT products are deployed and a random student sample stratified to be representative of the typical student experience of the university. The paper reports the outcomes and effectiveness of this methodology.