This study investigated the way in which expert and novice counselors process information through an information processing paradigm when formulating and confirming hypotheses developed in a counseling session. Comparisons were made between the ways in which expert and novice counselors differ in the hypotheses formulated. / Expert, intermediate, and novice counselors served as subjects in this study. The counselors were asked to record hypotheses (Thought-List) while viewing a video-taped segment of a counseling session. They were then instructed to sort their hypotheses into related groups. / The hypotheses were tested by five one-way ANOVAs and a MANOVA using multiple dependent variables to protect against the possibility of Type I errors. The results yielded no significant differences in the quantity of hypotheses generated between novices and experts, however, there was a statistical difference between novice and intermediate counselors, with the latter producing the greater quantity. There were no differences between groups for the time elapsed prior to the generation of the first or the last hypothesis. However, a $\chi\sp2$ test indicated that novices generated their first hypothesis within one minute of stimulus information whereas experts viewed at least one minute of the stimulus prior to the first hypothesis. Further results revealed that differences exist in the complex organizational structure employed in hypothesis formulation, with expert and intermediate counselors demonstrating greater complexity. Lastly, no differences were evidenced in the quantity of information recalled from the memory task. The use of the information processing paradigm to study the manner in which counselors process information to arrive at hypotheses seems warranted. Implications for practical application of the results and suggestions for further research are made. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-12, Section: A, page: 3630. / Major Professor: Gary W. Peterson. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77907 |
| Contributors | Ricke, Jill L., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 154 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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