A study to develop scales to assess client outcome optimism, self-efficacy, and perceived progress in psychotherapy
Abstract
This study involved the development and evaluation of the psychometric properties of scales to assess client perceptions of outcome optimism (OO), self-efficacy (SE), and progress in psychotherapy (PP). An exploratory goal clarity (GC) scale was also evaluated. Items were formulated logically from the current relevant theory and research to represent these constructs. Expert judges evaluated the items and 46 were retained to compose the initial questionnaire. Questionnaires were administered by therapists to 261 clients receiving therapy in various modalities, for a wide range of presenting problems, in diverse settings. Construct validity was assessed through exploratory Principle Components Analysis (PCA) and testing for response bias due to social desirability. Results of PCA indicated the optimum solution consisted of 5 factors. PCA confirmed the construct validity of OO, PP, and GC as initially defined. Items representing SE separated into two distinct factors. One factor reflected SE as initially defined. The other factor pertained to expending effort and persisting in expending effort in psychotherapy. This new factor was labeled effort and persistence (EP). Results indicated that client responses did not reflect systematic response bias due to social desirability. Of the initial 46 items, 23 were retained to represent the 5 variables (OO, SE, EP, PP, and GC). Results of higher order PCA of the 5 factors suggested the presence of a single broad factor pertaining to clients' general hopefulness regarding various positive effects of therapy. Internal consistency reliability coefficients for the scales were.91 for PP,.90 for OO,.83 for EP,.73 for SE, and.67 of GC. Cronbach's alpha for the total questionnaire (called HOPES) was.92. Results of this study provided evidence for the reliability and validity of the HOPES scales. Directions for continued development of the scales for research and clinical practice are presented.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Sprenkle, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy
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