TPC_Digest_Volume_2_Issue_2

A b s t r a c t This study examined the relationship between enrollment in online counseling courses and students’ counseling self-efficacy beliefs. Results indicate that students enrolled in online courses report statistically significant higher self-efficacy beliefs than students in traditional FTF courses. Implications for research and training instruction are discussed. Joshua C. Watson O nline L earning and the D evelopment of C ounseling S elf -E fficacy B eliefs TPC Digest In this study, the counseling self- efficacy beliefs of students enrolled in both traditional face-to-face (FTF) and online counselor education programs were compared to determine the effect of online training on counselor development. It was hypothesized that students who enrolled in traditional FTF courses would report greater perceptions of counseling self-efficacy than those enrolled in online courses. Participants were recruited from a random sample of 1000 graduate student members of the American Counseling Association (ACA). Overall, 429 individuals responded to the invitation (42.9% response rate). After removing incomplete surveys and responses from non-students, a final sample size of 373 individuals was determined. To establish comparison groups, participants were asked to indicate whether or not they had taken their core skill development courses (e.g., helping skills, group counseling, assessment, practicum, internship) required for their graduate counseling program of study online. For this study, an online course was defined as one in which at least 80% of the course content was delivered via the Internet.