Analysis of Group Leader and Member Feedback Messages
Keywords:
MessagesAbstract
Two hundred fifty-two items of corrective feedback from seven counselor training groups were rated on personal versus task, behavioral versus emotional, and unqualified versus qualified dimensions. The prediction was that leader-generated feedback messages would be more personally focused, behavioral, and unqualified than member messages during Session 4 of the groups and that these differences would disappear by Session 9. This hypothesis was supported for unqualified versus qualified ratings. Leaders delivered corrective feedback that was more direct and less qualified than that delivered by members at Session 4 of the groups. At Session 9, leader corrective feedback messages had become relatively more qualified and member messages relatively less qualified so that significant differences were no longer present. The authors explain their findings in relation to theories of group development and discuss implications for group leaders.
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