Date
4-25-2023
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)
Chair
Krista Kirk
Keywords
counselor education, implicit mindset, incremental mindset, entity mindset, counselors-in-training, challenging tasks, learning outcomes
Disciplines
Counseling | Education
Recommended Citation
Vernam, Jody Ellen, "Counselor in Training Perceived Ability to Learn Curriculum Standards and the Moderating Effect of Mindset on Learning" (2023). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 4333.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/4333
Abstract
Counselor educators strive to identify learner variables to improve counselor in training (CIT) learning during challenging tasks that align with the curriculum standards of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Educational Related Programs (CACREP). Implicit mindset (IM), either incremental or entity, is robustly associated with enhanced learning outcomes over time for challenging tasks. The purpose of this research was to describe CIT perceived challenge in learning CACREP curriculum standards and to analyze the moderating effect of IM on CIT learning. This research (1) described CIT perceived ability to learn CACREP curriculum standards (PALCCS), (2) examined the moderating effect of IM on the relationship between CIT PALCCS and both CIT GPA and CIT Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) scores and (3) examined the moderating role of IM on the relationship between CIT completed credit hours and CIT PALCCS. In this convenience sample from an online CACREP-accredited master’s in counseling program, CITs agreed they could learn the CACREP curriculum standards. Contrary to hypotheses, CIT IM negatively correlated with graduate GPA, CPCE score, and CIT PALCCS. CIT completed credit hours negatively correlated with CIT PALCCS. CIT IM did not moderate the relationship between CIT PALCCS and CIT GPA. CIT IM did not moderate the relationship between CIT completed credit hours and CIT PALCCS. CIT IM moderated the relationship between CIT PALCCS and CIT CPCE scores. Specifically, CIT CPCE scores increased as CIT PALCCS increased at a lower ICM level; however, CPCE scores tended to decrease as CIT PALCCS increased at higher ICM levels. Implications for future research and counselor education pedagogy are discussed.
