Patterns of relational communication in conjoint behavioral consultation.

Abstract

Conjoint behavioral consultation (CBC) is a structured model of service delivery that joins parents and teachers in collaborative problem-solving with the assistance of a consultant-psychologist (Sheridan, Kratochwill, & Bergan, 1996). CBC is carried out through the conduct of problem identification, problem analysis, and treatment evaluation interviews. In this CBC process study, interpersonal relationship patterns occurring within interviews were examined using the Family Relational Communication Control Coding System (Heatherington & Friedlander, 1987). Four CBC cases, consisting of 9,696 individual messages, were coded from audiotapes and verbatim transcripts. Scores on the variables "domineeringness" and "dominance" were calculated for each participant in order to assess patterns of relational control. Results suggested that consultants and consultees were generally consistent with each other in their levels of domineeringness and dominance. Consultants received slightly higher scores than consultees in their attempts to structure the CBC interactions (domineeringness), and consultees received slightly higher scores than consultants with respect to influence (dominance).

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

“…As noted previously (Erchul, 1987(Erchul, , 1992a(Erchul, , 1999Erchul et al, 1999), domineeringness and dominance have very specific operational meanings and carry no obvious negative associations within the relational communication research literature. However, use of these terms has resulted in some controversy within the consultation literature.…”

“…Dominance scores, however, suggested that the pattern of teacher-to-consultant exchanges varied across interviews; across the four cases, tlus dyad demonstrated the greatest variability in dominance (SD = 0.20). Erchul et al (1999) concluded that, when compared with the relational communication patterns displayed in teacher-only behavioral consultation, the relationships within CBC appear to be more symmetrical and reciprocal. Unlike the findings of Erchul (1987), which characterized the traditional behavioral consultation consultant-consultee relationship as complementary, CBC participants showed patterns of relational control that were strikingly similar (i.e., symmetrical).…”

“…Transitory '~l t h o u g h the history and co~lcepts of relational communication are critical to understand the background of this research, these topics are beyolid the scope of this article. The interested reader is referred to Erchul et al (1999) for a more detailed discussiol~ of relational communication and its application to CBC.…”

“…Given an apparent lack of acceptance of domineeringness and dominance, Erchul et al (1999) reinterpreted these constructs for further use in consultation research. Table 1 shows that the current view of domineeringness is one of directiveness and/or an attempt to influence relationship definitions in consultation.…”

“…Erchul et al (1999) used the FRCCCS to code 9,696 individual messages across the three interviews (CPII, CPAI, and CTEI) that constituted four CBC cases. Using the relational control research findings that existed for behavioral consultation (e.g., Erchul, 1987;Erchul & Chewning, 1990;Erchul, Covington, Hughes, & Meyers, 1995), they hypothesized that consultants would demonstrate higher levels of domineeringness and dominance than teachers or parents.…”