Where is the relationship in research on the alliance? Two methods for analyzing dyadic data.

Abstract

Researchers examining the therapy relationship are encouraged study both patients' and therapists' contribution to the relationship and the ways in which these contributions combine to impact treatment outcome (Steering Committee, 2002, p. 443). Research on the therapeutic alliance, however, is dominated by studies that examine the individual contributions of the counselor and client. Relationship researchers have developed alternative ways to analyze dyadic data that do take into account the relationship. One alternative paradigm is to model the interdependence in dyadic alliance data with the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; D. A. Kashy & D. A. Kenny, 2000). The APIM examines interdependence by modeling the impact of 1 dyad member's alliance ratings on the other member's session impact rating. APIM can also examine how alliance agreement interacts with alliance ratings to predict session impact. The other alternative paradigm is to use the latent group model (R. Gonzalez & D. Griffin, 2002) to examine the individual-level and dyad-level covariance in alliance and session impact ratings. The APIM and latent group models are illustrated with alliance and session impact measures from 53 client-counselor dyads.