Date of Award

1997

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

This study was an investigation of the effect of client and counselor learning style congruence, similarity, and incongruence on how the client perceives the counselor with regard to expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness. The effect of taking the measure at two points in time during the counseling process was also examined. Participants were 90 clients and 14 counselors from the student counseling centers of midwestern universities. A total of 30 client-counselor dyads was utilized in each of the following groups: Group 1 (congruent learning styles), Group 2 (similar learning styles), and Group 3 (incongruent learning styles). Client participants rated their perceptions of their counselors following intake and the third session. The data from this study were analyzed using a 3 (degree of learning style congruence) x 2 (time of measure) MANOVA with repeated measures. A subsequent pairwise analysis of the dyad groups was conducted using three 2 x 2 MANOVAS with repeated measures. Significant multivariate effects were followed by univariate analyses of variance. One 3 x 2 ANOVA with repeated measures was computed with respect to each of the dependent measures. Significant univariate effects were followed by main effect analysis using the Newman-Keuls method. Both main effects and the interaction effect were significant in the main analysis of this study. In pairwise analysis, congruent versus incongruent dyads and similar versus incongruent dyads were significantly different with respect to both main effects and their interaction. Congruent versus similar dyads were significant with respect to main effects only. Univariate analyses revealed a significant difference between groups with regard to perceived expertness and trustworthiness. Also, there was a significant difference in client perceptions among all clients as a function of time of measure. Results, implications for practice, and recommendations for future research are discussed.

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