Publication Date

1987

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Tucker, Charles O.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Communication Studies

Abstract

The use of student paraprofessionals in higher education institutions is increasing as these individual are performing responsibilities in counseling, academic advising, new student orientation, residence life, and many other areas. With the increase in paraprofessional utilization has come an increase in concern over developing effective and efficient training programs which will assure that these individuals provide college students with appropriate guidance and service. Most paraprofessional training focuses on the development of strong oral communication skills. Much attention has been centered on the impact of paraprofessional training on the outcome of interactions between paraprofessionals and their clients. However, little attention has been focused on the impact of training on paraprofessionals themselves, particularly on how training influences paraprofessionals' cognitive development. William Perry's scheme of intellectual and ethical development provides a structural framework for describing the cognitive development of college students, and suggests that instructional approaches can positively or negatively enhance their development. This study reviewed three primary approaches to paraprofessional communication skills training--Kagan's Interpersonal Process Recall, Ivey's Microcounseling, and Carkhuff's Human Relations Training--and assessed the degree to which their training programs promote cognitive development as outlined by Perry. The study found that only Ivey's Microcounseling promoted development as outlined by Perry. Kagan's approach promoted only Perry's relativistic positions, while Carkhuff's approach promoted only Perry's dualistic positions.

Comments

Bibliography: pages [61]-71.

Extent

iv, 71 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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