AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GRADUATED PHASE MODELING IN IMPROVING COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND SELF-PERCEIVED RELATIONSHIP QUALITY AMONG DATING COUPLES

RODERICK LEE SMITH, Purdue University

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effects of emphasizing the modeling component of the Program for Relationship Improvement by Maximizing Empathy and Self-Disclosure (PRIMES). The modeling emphasis, which was called graduated phase modeling (GPM), required that the couples participating in the study begin the communication training as modelees of the appropriate skills and conclude their training as modelors of the same skills. At least one partner in each of the couples was enrolled in one of two university courses. Couples represented by a partner enrolled in a marriage and family course were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups (N = 36) and to the first control group (N = 24). Couples represented by a member enrolled in a child development class were assigned to the second control group (N = 16) to control for possible effects due to being exposed to a marriage-oriented course. A "pretest-posttest control group" design was used to control for several threats to internal validity. Couples were tested prior to the commencement of the program and again immediately following their participation. The treatment groups received 12 hours of training in six weekly two-hour sessions. Instrumentation incuded both self-report and behavioral measures. To assess the effects of the program on the couples' interpersonal communication skills, the Communication Rapid Assessment Scale (CRAS), Marital Communication Styles (MCS), Primary Communication Inventory-Partner (PCI-P), and Handling Problems Change Scale (HPCS) were used. The Interpersonal Relationship Scale (IRS), Satisfaction Change Scale (SCS), and the Relationship Inventory (RI) subscales, including Congruence (C), Unconditionality, (U), Empathy (E), and Level of Regard (R) were used to assess changes in the couples' relationship quality. Since two co-leader teams provided leadership for the groups, an analysis of covariance was performed to assess possible leader effects. When no significant effects were found, data collected on couples led by the respective teams were consolidated for the analysis of treatment effects. An analysis of covariance revealed significant results when performed on the IRS and marginally significant results on the CRAS, PCI-P, SCS and the R subscale, and nonsignificance on the MCS, HPCS and the C, U, and E subscales of the RI. After compensating for ceiling effects, an analysis of covariance performed on the lower 50% scores showed significant differences on the C subscale of the RI and marginal significance on the HPCS. Overall, the results partially support the effectiveness of GPM as a modification of an established communication training program for dating couples. Recommendations for future research to further explore the feasibility of this method are offered.

Degree

Ph.D.

Subject Area

Psychology

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