The empirical evaluation of family therapy training

Abstract

As the first substantive use of the FTCS, some useful information about the coding system emerged from this study. Its unitization and categorization reliability proved to be excellent. The results supported the discriminant validity of certain subscales, which confirmed predicted differences and distinguished trainees at varied levels of experience. In general, the continued use of the FTCS for the evaluation of therapy and training appears to be highly desirable. Three hypotheses were examined to account for the failure to find more significant training effects. The hypotheses are not mutually exclusive and seem quite plausible in light of the nature of the trainees and the two-year training program. The analysis of the second year of the program will, it is hoped, further illuminate our understanding of the current results.