The Influence of Demand Characteristics and Social Desirability on Clients' Ratings of the Therapeutic Alliance. Issue 7 (24th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reese, Robert J.; Gillaspy, J. Arthur; Owen, Jesse J.; Flora, Kevin L.; Cunningham, Linda C.; Archie, Danielle; Marsden, TroyMichael
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical psychology. Volume 69:Issue 7(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 696
• Page End: 709
• Publication Date: 2013-01-24
• Subjects: Psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.21946
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9762

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jclp21946-sec-0010" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To examine demand characteristics, social desirability on clients' rating of working alliance using the Session Rating Scale (SRS; Miller, Duncan, &amp; Johnson, 2000).</p> </sec> <sec id="jclp21946-sec-0020" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>Clients (<italic>N</italic> = 102) at two sites were randomly assigned to one of three alliance feedback conditions: (a) IF—SRS completed in presence of therapist and the results discussed immediately afterward; (b) Next Session Feedback—SRS completed alone and results discussed next session; or (c) No Feedback—SRS completed alone and results not available to therapist. Clients completed the SRS for the first three sessions of treatment.</p> </sec> <sec id="jclp21946-sec-0030" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>No statistically significant differences in SRS scores across the feedback conditions were found. Additionally, the analysis showed that SRS scores were not correlated with a measure of social desirability but were correlated with an established alliance measure.</p> </sec> <sec id="jclp21946-sec-0040" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The results indicate that alliance scores were not inflated due to the presence of a therapist or knowing that the scores would be observed by the therapist.</p> </sec> </abstract>