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Abstract
The purpose of this study was twofold. The study was designed to identify differences between analogue and real clients on counseling outcome measure. The outcome variables in this study were the number of homework assignments completed, measures of goal oriented change, and those dropping out of counseling prematurely. The second purpose was to investigate the impact of perceived need within a social influence paradigm of counseling on these same outcome variables. Need was measured differentially using separate indices; a global 7-point scale assessing perceived need for counseling and portions of the BCD Needs Assessment Questionnaire regarding risks, expectations, and time available for change. Career counseling was used as the framework to investigate the effects of client need (high or low) and referral base (analogue volunteer or real client) on the dependent variables.
A total of seventy-seven persons participated in this study including twenty-four clients and fifty-three analogue volunteers. Volunteers received extra credit for completion of the initial career counseling session.
Significant differences were found for referral base and/or measures of need on each of the dependent variables. Using a stepwise multiple regression, a component of need (expectations for change) was found to account for.15 of the variance for assignments completed $(p<.001).$ A significant interaction was found between need and time on pre-post ratings of decidedness on a college major using a repeated measures ANOVA $(p<.05).$ Both need and referral base were found to significantly contribute $(p<.001)$ to the stepwise discriminant analysis analyzing those who dropped out of counseling prematurely.
