Hypothesis-testing strategies used by 72 psychology doctoral students were
assessed after these therapists viewed and responded to a videotaped client
-therapist interaction. The results of the present study indicate that the
therapists who were provided with a plausible hypothesis or who were allowe
d to develop their own hypothesis were more likely to rely on confirmatory
hypothesis-testing strategies than were therapists provided with a less pla
usible hypothesis about the client. In addition, it was found that the type
of decision-making strategy used by the therapists was not influenced by w
hether they were held highly accountable for their responses or minimally a
ccountable for their responses.