A comparative study of self-perceived experiences of supervisors and supervisees about supervision in psychology

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Date
2011
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Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
This study was used to compare how supervisors and supervisees experience supervision at the University of Zululand in the department of psychology. A survey was conducted with the use of Likert type questionnaires. The researcher used the data that was gathered during the pilot study (which was conducted in 2008) as well as the recommendations to formulate a 5-point scale. Items were in a counterbalanced order to identify and control response bias. Participants were then asked to suggest what they thought should be done to improve supervision in an open-ended question. Each statement was presented individually in terms of percentages of respondents and their level of agreement with the statement. Statements were designed to elicit particular themes so the researcher condensed them so as to better describe self-perceived experiences of both supervisors and supervisees. The findings were descriptive of the reality of supervision (what is happening) as perceived by the participants. These findings were then compared with the existing literature on supervision (what should be happening). The findings showed a more positive picture than what had been anticipated by the researcher. Nevertheless, a few gaps were identified and recommendations were made in an attempt to bridge them. This study has provided valuable information on how supervision is experienced by both supervisors and supervisees. Moreover, it is of value to the university departments that incorporate supervision as part of their training process, especially the helping professions. Furthermore, the study helped in the identification of factors that supervisors and supervisees view as attributes in the promotion of professional development.
Description
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2011.
Keywords
Supervisors and supervisees, Supervision and inspection--psychology
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