Variations in the patterns of interaction in the supervision interview across levels of counselor development

Richard Francis Ponton, Fordham University

Abstract

This study investigated variations in the patterns of interaction as they occur in the supervision of advanced and beginning trainees. Specifically the study investigated systematic differences in the variations in the verbal behavior of trainees at beginning and advanced levels of training, variations in the verbal behavior of the supervisor working with each of these levels, and variations in the sequence of verbal interactions of the supervisor and trainee at these different levels of training. Using 10 supervisors, each supervising both a beginning and an advanced trainee, 20-minute segments of supervisory interviews were rated by trained observers using the Blumberg's Interactional Analysis. The data were analyzed by means of sequential analysis, base rate analysis, and ratio analysis. Analysis of the data indicated that there were predictable differences in the supervision of beginning and advanced trainees. Supervisors were more likely with beginning trainees than with advanced trainees to respond to requests for information by giving information. Supervisors were more likely to request opinions following the trainees' giving of information for the beginning group than for the advanced group. Base rate analysis indicated that advanced trainees gave significantly more information and opinions than beginning trainees and supervisors requested information from beginning trainees significantly more often than from advanced trainees. Ratio analysis revealed that supervisors were significantly more active in the supervision of beginning trainees. There was no significant difference in the directness of supervision between beginning and advanced trainees. These findings reveal differences in the supervision of advanced and beginning trainees that are consistent with the theories of counselor development.

Subject Area

Academic guidance counseling

Recommended Citation

Ponton, Richard Francis, "Variations in the patterns of interaction in the supervision interview across levels of counselor development" (1989). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI9007189.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI9007189

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