Degree Name

EdD (Doctor of Education)

Program

Educational Leadership

Date of Award

May 1985

Abstract

Problem. The problem of this study was to compare attitudes of selected students toward counseling services provided by the Division of Special Services in colleges and universities in the State of Tennessee. Methods. The subjects involved were students enrolled in Special Services for Disadvantaged Students during the fall semester/quarter 1984. Using the Counselor Rating Scales (Short Form), students rated counselors in three areas: first impressions, helpfulness of the counselor, and helpfulness for specific problems. Findings. The findings of the study indicated a statistically significant difference in the following areas: Students who had been enrolled in Special Services for one or more semesters/quarters expressed a greater tendency toward favorable first impressions of the Special Services Counselor than did students who were new enrollees during the fall semester/quarter 1984; females and students who participate in many counseling functions reported a greater tendency to recommend their counselors to other students than did males and students who participate in very few counseling functions; and females and students who participate in many counseling functions expressed a greater tendency toward favorable perceptions of the helpfulness of the Special Services Counselor with specific problems than did males and students who participate in very few counseling functions. Conclusions. Based upon the areas in which no significant differences were found to exist, it was concluded that sex, race, frequency of participation in counseling activities, length of enrollment in the program, and geographical locale were not factors which influenced students' ratings of the perceived general helpfulness of the Special Services Counselor, specifically their optimism for the helpfulness of continuing with their particular counselors. However, sex and frequency of participation in counseling activities were factors that influenced students' willingness to recommend their counselors to other students.

Document Type

Dissertation - unrestricted

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