A PACKAGE PROGRAM TO TEACH BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATION INTERVIEW: AN ANALOGUE STUDY

Abstract

An instructional package is presented for training pre-intern psychologists in behavioral interviewing techniques. A specific interview format, the Problem Identification Interview, was combined with microsetting technology to provide an efficient method of training consultation verbal skills. The instructional package was evaluated with a multiple baseline across subjects design. Results of the study indicated that verbal skills specific to the interviewing format were acquired when the instructional package was used. The acquired skills were maintained across several experimental sessions and at a two month follow-up. A social validation questionnaire revealed that subjects of the study found the training to be preferable to traditional methods and relevant to future applied practice. The implications of this study for the training of psychologists and other professionals providing problem solving services were discussed.