Micro‐Counseling: An Experimental Study of Pre‐Practicum Training in Communicating Test Results

Abstract

Micro‐counseling techniques were used to train 10 beginning graduate students in communicating test results. Training emphasized listening and responding to cues given by the client, brief and concise statements about test‐related information, and relating the information to the client's experiences and needs. Training aids included programmed materials, brief videotapes of positive and negative models, role‐playing, and videotape feedback of the role‐playing and test interpretation sessions. Judges' ratings of trainees in the experimental group were significantly higher than their ratings for the 10 trainees in the control group. Client ratings of counselor effectiveness did not differ significantly for the two groups. Changes in clients' pre‐ and post‐test attitude scores and knowledge scores were statistically significant. An enthusiastic response to the micro‐counseling approach was evident from both inexperienced and experienced graduate students.