Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


ohiou1220483624.pdf (2.32 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Chicken or egg, Alliance or Outcome: An attempt to answer an age old question

Goldman, Elizabeth Davis
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1220483624

Abstract Details

2008, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Clinical Psychology (Arts and Sciences).
In an attempt to determine whether alliance is a cause of outcome or an artifact of previous outcome, data from a naturalistic study of outcomes in the Psychology and Social Work Clinic at Ohio University are analyzed using regression and multilevel modeling. Clients (n = 43) completed the Outcome Questionnaire before each session and Working Alliance Inventory - Short Form Revised after each session. Regression and multilevel modeling were used to test whether when controlling for previous outcome, alliance predicts subsequent outcome. The two types of statistical analysis gave different results. Multilevel modeling supported the idea that alliance plays a causal role in client improvement, showing both that alliance predicts outcome and that outcome does not predict alliance. Results from regression were more equivocal. Alliance did not predict outcome, but outcome also did not predict alliance. Examination of the results tended to indicate that multilevel modeling is methodologically superior to regression when it comes to assessing the timeline of the relationship between the alliance and outcome. MLM (but not regression) showed initial severity also influences outcome and gave limited support to the possibility that security of attachment plays a role in the relationship between alliance and outcome. Lack of convergence in the literature is discussed in terms of differences in methodology and definitions of alliance. It is recommended that future research on the temporal relationship between alliance and outcome make use of multilevel modeling and incorporate observations at every session. The complexity and interrelatedness of the concepts studied is emphasized, and Hatcher and Barends' (2006) view of the alliance as a concept that is superordinate to specific factors is endorsed.
Timothy Anderson, Ph.D. (Advisor)
John Garske, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Christine Gidycz, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Benjamin Ogles, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Karen Carlson, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
157 p.
Psychology; Psychotherapy
therapeutic alliance working alliance; Outcome Questionnaire; Working Alliance Inventory; psychotherapy process; psychotherapy research

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Goldman, E. D. (2008). Chicken or egg, Alliance or Outcome: An attempt to answer an age old question [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1220483624

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Goldman, Elizabeth. Chicken or egg, Alliance or Outcome: An attempt to answer an age old question. 2008. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1220483624.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Goldman, Elizabeth. "Chicken or egg, Alliance or Outcome: An attempt to answer an age old question." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1220483624

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1220483624
841
© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.