The Relationship of Supervision Variables to Counseling Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectations Among Practicing Psychologists

Abstract

OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University School of Education Title: THE RELATIONSHIP OF SUPERVISION VARIABLES TO COUNSELING SELF-EFFICACY AND OUTCOME EXPECTATIONS AMONG PRACTICING PSYCHOLOGISTS Name of researcher: Gunther L. Schwartz Name and degree of faculty chair: Ronald Coffen, Ph.D. Date completed: June 2016 Purpose of the Study The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether Psychologists who receive supervision have greater Counseling Self-efficacy and greater Counseling Outcome Expectancy than Psychologists who do not receive supervision. The secondary purpose was to assess the demographic and personal variables that are associated with Counseling Self-efficacy and Counseling Outcome Expectancy, as well as the supervisor factors associated with Counseling Self-efficacy and Counseling Outcome Expectancy. Method The Counselor Self-Estimate Inventory (COSE), Counseling Outcome Expectancies Scale (COES) and the Supervision Descriptive Questionnaire (SDQ) were administered to 341 Michigan psychologists who either received supervision (n = 254) or who did not receive supervision (n = 87). Data were analyzed using ANOVA, multiple linear regression, and factor analysis. Differences and relationships were considered to be statistically significant at the p < .05 threshold. Results Psychologists who received supervision were significantly different from psychologists who did not receive supervision in their levels of Counseling Self-efficacy but not in levels of Counseling Outcome Expectancy. Counseling Outcome Expectancy varied significantly based on years with supervisor, with the highest Counseling Outcome Expectancy associated with 4-10 years with supervisor. Age, gender, highest degree, license type, work setting, primary theoretical orientation, professional roles, and mandatory supervision were not significantly associated with Counseling Self-efficacy or Counseling Outcome Expectancy. Hours spent providing individual counseling was positively associated with Counseling Outcome Expectancy and approached significance with Counseling Self-efficacy, while ethnicity and hours spent providing couples/family counseling was associated with higher Counseling Self-efficacy but not Counseling Outcome Expectancy. Factor analysis revealed a 4-factor solution for the Supervision Factors Scale: Encouraging and Facilitative Behaviors, Content and Structural Focus, Focus on Personal/Professional Growth, and Administrative Procedures, with only Content and Structural Focus significantly predictive of Counseling Self-efficacy and Counseling Outcome Expectancy.