USING PEER, SELF, AND COUNSELOR RATINGS TO EVALUATE TREATMENT PROGRESS

It is generally recognized that the evaluation of treatment progress r equires multiple methods of assessment. To provide a basis for supplem enting existing measures, the current study investigated the use of a peer rating methodology for evaluating the treatment progress of 381 p robationers admitted to a four-month residential drug abuse facility. Self ratings of ''working the program'' (i.e., conscientiously partici pating in treatment) were compared with ratings by peers in the progra m and with ratings by counselors. Peer and counselor ratings were more highly correlated with each other than with client self ratings. Peer as well as self ratings detected differences between enhanced and sta ndard counseling, and were related to individual difference measures k nown to be associated with treatment progress. In addition, peer midte rm ratings of ''working the program'' were related to both self and co unselor ratings of clients' endterm participation, and counselor ratin gs of the likelihood of remaining clean and sober. These findings supp ort the use of peer ratings as additional indicators of treatment prog ress.