Assessing the social context in initial conjoint behavioral consultation interviews: An exploratory analysis investigating processes and outcomes.

Abstract

In this exploratory study, the communicative process in conjoint behavioral consultation was investigated with a coding system designed to measure two dimensions of communication (i.e., influence and involvement). The nature of discrete speech acts that typify consultants' and consultees' behaviors in CBC (i.e., collaborative, controlling, obliging, withdrawing) and the communicative function of speech exchanges within CBC (i.e., affiliation, distancing, mixed) were investigated. An initial exploration of the relationship between speech exchanges and direct and indirect outcomes in CBC was conducted. Results indicated that CBC meetings were characterized by a high degree of affiliation among participants; however, few significant relationships were identified between the exchanges and outcomes. Future research is recommended to address limitations of the present study and to advance the field's understanding of how communication patterns in CBC may facilitate positive case outcomes.Collaboration in consultation is an area that has received a great deal of scrutiny in recent years. Criticisms of collaboration revolve around several core assumptions of behavioral consultation, including (a) the respective roles of consultants, parents, and teachers; (b) the most effective interactional styles among consultation participants; and (c) the extent to which collaborative interactions facilitate 299

Bridging the gap between research and practice: A framework for building research agendas in school psychology

“…For example, PAR and other partnership models are often not well-described, lack specific procedures for developing partnerships, and/or involve poorly defined constructs (Sheridan, Meegan, & Eagle, 2002). In addition, current PAR models have been criticized for their limited experimental control and generalizability.…”

Relationships Among Relational Communication Processes and Perceptions of Outcomes in Conjoint Behavioral Consultation

“…Sheridan concluded that consultants appeared to control more of the discussion in CBC, suggesting that the presence of additional consultees may lead consultants to provide more structure to the discussion. Sheridan, Meegan, and Eagle (2002) examined the communicative processes of influence and involvement in CBC. The purpose of their study was to (a) identify the nature of consultant and consultee speech acts, (b) examine the communicative function of interchanges between participants, and (c) explore the relationships between participant exchanges and CBC outcomes.…”

“…The results of this study suggested that the communicative process in CBC is highly collaborative, with the next most frequent category of speech acts being obliging. Sheridan et al (2002) concluded, "The nature of interactions and the social context in the CBC samples was overwhelmingly affiliative, characterized by a reciprocal 'give and take,' cooperative conversational style" (p. 316).…”

The Past, Present, and Future of Conjoint Behavioral Consultation Research

“…Such findings illustrate that control within the consultee-to-consultee and consultee-to-consultant relationships may be an important factor influencing perceptions of case outcomes. Sheridan, Meegan, and Eagle (2002) examined the nature of the social context in CBC and its relationship to case outcomes (i.e., effect sizes, perceived effectiveness/acceptability of consultation procedures, and satisfaction with the consultant). The Psychosocial Processes Coding Scheme (PPCS; Leaper, 1991) was used to assess two dimensions of communication function within CBC: influence and involvement.…”