Degree Name
Education Specialist (EdS)
Semester of Degree Completion
1987
Thesis Director
Paul D. Overton
Abstract
In effort to determine student perceptions which inhibit initiation of counseling, 235 seniors from two randomly selected, mid-Illinois high schools were surveyed. The two schools were chosen according to geographic location and student enrollment. The 50 item survey consisted of 26 internal items (reasons within the student) and 24 external items (reasons lying with the counselor or counselor circumstances), which could further be divided into eleven categories: perceived lack of empathy; perceived lack of acceptance; perceived lack of confidentiality/trustworthiness; perceived counselor incongruency; perceived counselor authoritarianism; perceived counselor inadequacy; perceived problem in time or scheduling; perceived negative consequences; perceived apprehensions; lack of information, and; student rejection of counselors/counseling. Rank item analysis indicated an equal distribution of internal and external reasons for avoidance of counselor contact. Further, it was found that perceived apprehensions and perceived problem in time or scheduling were the two most significant areas of deterrence.
Recommended Citation
Shuppert, Julia A., "Student Perceptions Which Affect Initiation of the Counseling Experience" (1987). Masters Theses. 2607.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/2607
