Assessing the Relationship between Competence and Job Role and Identity among Direct Service Counseling Psychologists

Abstract

The relationship between competence and identity and job roles/activities of direct service counseling psychologists was investigated by assessing differences in job role and identity among two groups of eminent psychologists (American Board of Professional Psychology [ABPP] diplomates and a peer-nominated Exemplary group) and a group of general psychologists (Rank and File). The three groups (N = 189) were compared using the Counseling Psychology Task Inventory (CPTI)—a 73-item instrument measuring eight broad work areas (Counseling, Research, Supervision and Training, Teaching and Training, Administration, Consultation, Writing and Editing, and Professional Development) across three dependent variables: task importance, relevance to professional identity, and relative amount of time spent in each task. The Exemplary group differed significantly from the Rank and File group only in the amount of time spent in Professional Development (p < .0 1). No significant differences were found between the two eminent groups or the ABPP and Rank and File groups. Follow-up analyses led to two additional conclusions. First, when divided into groups by percent of time spent in Counseling in seven of eight work areas, significant differences were noted. For each of the 20 significant comparisons (p < .01), an inverse relationship was noted between the mean values within work areas and percentage of time spent in Counseling. That is, those who spent relatively more time in Counseling yielded lower task importance, relevance to professional identity, and time on task scores for the areas of Research, Supervision and Training, Teaching and Training, Administration, Consultation, Writing and Editing, and Professional Development. Second, when mean values were rank ordered, a consistent pattern of three work areas was prioritized by respondents to comprise a nucleus of tasks consistent with the “life span development” ethos of counseling psychology. These work areas were Supervision and Training, Counseling, and Professional Development.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Board of Professional Psychology . (1990). Directory of diplomates: American Board of Professional Psychology, 1990-1991. Columbia, MO: Author.

American Psychological Association . (1990). Directory of the American Psychological Association. Washington, DC: Author.

Banikotes, P. G. (1977). The training of counseling psychologists. Counseling Psychologist, 7(2), 23-26.

Birk, J. M. , & Brooks, L. (1986). Required skills and training needs of recent counseling psychology graduates. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 33, 320-325.

Bowman, S. L. (1997). Research training in counseling psychology: A former training director's perceptions. Counseling Psychologist, 25(1), 82-87.

Brigante, R. R. , Haefner, D. P. , & Woodson, W. B. (1962). Clinical and counseling psychologists' perceptions of their specialties. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 9, 225-231.

Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests Psychometrika, 16, 297-334.

Delworth, U. (1977). Counseling psychology: A distinct practice specialty. Counseling Psychologist, 7(2), 43-45.

Fitzgerald, L. F. , & Osipow, S. H. (1982). Counseling Psychology Task Inventory. Unpublished instrument.

10.

Fitzgerald, L. F. , & Osipow, S. H. (1986). An occupational analysis of counseling psychology: How special is the specialty? American Psychologist, 41, 535-544.

11.

Goldschmitt, M. Tipton, R. M. , & Wiggins, R. C. (1981). Professional identity of counseling psychologists. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 28, 158-167.

12.

Kahn, J. H. , & Scott, N. A. (1997). Predictors of research productivity and science-related career goals among counseling psychology doctoral students. Counseling Psychologist, 25(1), 38-67.

13.

King, P. T. , & Seymour, W. R. (1982). Education and training in counseling psychology. Professional Psychology, 13, 834-842.

14.

Loveland, E. H. (1985). Methods of competence: Some definitional issues. Professional Practice of Psychology, 6, 129-143.

15.

Masterpasqua, F. (1989). A competence paradigm for psychological practice. American Psychologist, 44, 1366-1371.

16.

Nunnally, J. (1978). Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.

17.

Getting, E. R. (1967). Developmental definition of counseling psychology. journal of Counseling Psychology, 14, 382-385.

18.

Osipow, S. H. , Cohen, W. , Jenkins, J. , & Dostal, J. (1979). Clinical versus counseling psychology: Is there a difference? Professional Psychology, 10, 148-153.

19.

Pederson, P. , & Leong, F. (1997). Counseling in an international context. Counseling Psychologist, 25(1), 117-122.

20.

Peterson, D. R. , & Bry, B. H. (1980). Dimensions in perceived competence in professional psychology. Professional Psychology, 11, 965-971.

21.

Petrie, T. S. , Diehl, N. S. , & Watkins, C. E., Jr. (1995). Sport psychology: An emerging domain in the counseling psychology profession. Counseling Psychologist, 23(3), 535-545.

22.

Poidevant, J. M. , Loesch, L. C. , & Wittmer, J. (1991). Vocational aspirations and perceived self-efficacy of doctoral students in the counseling professions. Counselor Education and Supervision, 30, 289-300.

23.

Schoon, C. G. (1985). Methods for defining and assessing professional competence. Professional Practice of Psychology, 6, 144-155.

24.

Shaw, B. F. , & Dobson, K. S. (1988). Competency judgments in the training and evaluation of psychotherapists. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 666-672.

25.

Super, D. E. (1980). Transition: From vocational guidance to counseling psychology. In J. M. Whiteley (Ed.), The history of counseling psychology (pp. 16-24). Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole.

26.

Tipton, R. M. (1983). Clinical and counseling psychology: A study of roles and functions. Professional Psychology, 14, 837-846.

27.

Watkins, C. E., Jr. (1983). Counseling psychology versus clinical psychology: Further explorations on a theme or once around the “identity” maypole with gusto. Counseling Psychologist, 11(4), 76-92.

28.

Watkins, C. E., Jr. (1984). Reflections on the roles and functions of counseling psychologists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 15, 472-475.

29.

Watkins, C. E., Jr. (1988). Contemporary issues in counseling psychology: A selected review. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 19, 441-448.

30.

Whiteley, J. M. (1980). The history of counseling psychology. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole.

31.

Whiteley, J. M. (1984). A historical perspective on the development of counseling psychology as a profession. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Handbook of counseling psychology. (pp. 3-55). New York: Wiley.

32.

Zook, A., II , & Walton, J. M. (1989). Theoretical orientations and work settings of clinical and counseling psychologists: A current perspective. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 1, 23-31.