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A SHORT OVERVIEW OF SUPERVISION OUTCOME RESEARCH:
METHODICAL AND PRACTICAL ISSUES
be the optimal length and freguency for supervision? What may be the optimal
contexts? Which technigue is more effective? How effectiveness is moderated
by differences among clients, supervisors, and settings? Ihere is no consensus
about how effective supervision can be assessed; how guality can be ensured
and how methods can be developed.
There are many models of supervision, ranging from traditional,
authoritarian to more collaborative ones. Different models of supervision place
emphasis in varying degrees, on the client, the supervisor, the supervisee, or the
context. Choices about outcome variables, as well as measurement techniques
may be dependent on actual settings too.’ Different supervision techniques
and theoretical assumptions may require different outcome measures. One
approach is the effort to develop measures which can be used across different
types of supervision. Underlying this is a belief that no single instrument or set
of procedures can detect all the outcomes. “Batteries” of instruments capture
core changes that result from any application of supervision.®
APPROACHES OF EVALUATING SUPERVISION
Measures from supervisees may be reports and ratings of the behavior,
thoughts, and feelings. Such data are collected on questionnaires or through
interviews. Verbal reports can be gained of the client’s ability to cope with
various problems; a series of structured questions can be administered about
work efficancy, feelings of life satisfaction, and satisfaction with supervision.
Although narrative reports of functioning may be collected even during the
process, instruments with standardized items are also recommended. Paper¬
and-pencil measures of personality and adjustment can be administered too.
Although client assessment measures yield important data, they have obvious
limitations and biases. Supervisees might report satisfaction; still it might not
affect their performance.’
Measures taken from the supervisor and others involved in the process are
also frequently used outcome data sources. Supervisors can provide a first¬
hand perspective; but it is problematic that the supervisor has a vested in¬
terest in producing positive outcomes. A substantial research literature still
indicates that supervisors can provide useful and relatively unbiased reports.
Information on the outcome of supervision can be collected from organization/
7 Ibid.
8 L. Timulak, Research in Psychotherapy and Counselling, Sage, 2009.
° Ibid.
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