THE RELATION OF LEVEL OF FACILITATIVE CONDITIONS, CONSULTANT EXPERIENCE, AND STAGE OF CONSULTATION TO CONSULTEES PERCEPTIONS OF THE USE OF DIRECT CONFRONTATION

Controversy surrounds the use of confrontation in human services consu ltation. This analogue study investigated the effects of facilitative consultative conditions, consultant experience, and the stage of consu ltation in which confrontation occurs on consultees' perceptions of th e use of direct confrontation. Graduate student participants viewed an d then rated the consultants' use of confrontation in 16 videotaped sc enarios of a consultation interaction representing combinations of the independent variables (facilitative conditions, consultant experience , and stage of consultation) and containing a consultant-initiated dir ect confrontation. The study was replicated with a group of undergradu ate students taking counseling courses. Results for both groups sugges t that facilitative conditions, consultant experience, and the stage o f consultation in which confrontation occurs interact in influencing c onsultees' perceptions of confrontation. Results are discussed in term s of implications for practice and future research efforts.