Abstract

The purpose of the study was to test the two hypotheses. The first hypothesis was that potential clients with individualistic (or collectivistic) values would more positively evaluate counselors pursuing the similar values with clients. The second hypothesis was that potential clients with individualistic(or collectivistic) values would expect the counseling more effective when counselors pursue the similar values with clients. A total of 104 female college students participated in the study. They were assigned to one of the two groups (individualistics and collectivistic) matched with respect to their Individualistic-Collectivistic Value Scale scores. This study was designed as an analogue study which participants evaluated the counselor and anticipated counseling effectiveness as if they were pretending to be real clients while observing videotapes showing counseling interviews. The participants were assigned to one of individualistic group observed the videotape showing an individualistic counselor role and collectivistic group observed the videotape showing a collectivistic counselor role. After observing the assigned tape, each participant completed the Counselor Rating Form-Short Version, the Client Expectancy Questionnaire, and the Expectancies for Counseling Continuation scales. The data were analyzed using 2(Participant Values- Individualistic or Collectivistic) X 2 (Counseling Style : Individualistic or Collectivistic) ANOVAs. Interaction effects of participant values and counseling style for the dependent measures were expected to support the hypotheses. However, none of the interaction effects were found and the study failed to support the stated hypotheses. Nevertheless, analyses of the data provided some useful information. That was, participants who have relatively individualistic values evaluated the counselor to be more expert and expected the counseling to be more effective for the individualistic counselor than the collectivistic counselor. Another interesting finding was that counselor values pursuing either individualistic or collectivistic values in counseling dyads did not make any differences in the evaluations of participants who have relatively collectivistic values.