Survey of college counseling centers' follow-up practices with former clients.

We investigated the follow-up methods used by counseling centers to evaluate the individual counseling services that they provide. A sample of 80 centers was selected for study; these were centers that indicated that the primary form of evaluation was a locally developed instrument used to assess clients' post counseling status and satisfaction with their counseling. We used a questionnaire to assess data-gathering procedures, follow-up practices, rates of return, and uses made of the data as well as resulting problems and trends. Major issues addressed include the low percentage of return rates of satisfaction questionnaires and the effect of these rates on possible response bias. The use of center survey results to evaluate client status and counselors' work is discussed. The issue of the timing of satisfaction surveys of clients is raised, particularly in light of procedures that combine clients who have previously terminated counseling and clients still in the process of counseling. The issues of self-report and the need for more rigorous methodologies are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A single-pass RGB differential photoacoustic spectrometer (RGB-DPAS) for aerosol absorption measurement at 473, 532, and 671 nm

In this study, we describe a newly developed three-wavelength differential photoacoustic spectrometer, which we denote RGB-DPAS, for aerosol absorption measurement in the visible spectral range: 671?nm (red), 532?nm (green), and 473?nm (blue). This instrument utilizes the differential photoacoustic spectrometric (DPAS) technique, which simultaneously measures light absorption signals due to total particulate matter?+?gaseous samples and those of gaseous samples alone. The difference between the photoacoustic signals recorded from the two nearly identical acoustic cells (<0.2% variability in physical dimensions) yields the aerosol photoacoustic signals at the three wavelengths. This measurement approach eliminates the interferences from light-absorbing gaseous species as well as low-frequency ambient acoustic noise. In this study, we demonstrate the linearity of the RGB-DPAS signal response to the number concentration of the synthetic carbon black particles at electrical mobility diameter (D_m) = 350?nm, which is used as a calibration surrogate. Based on the Allan variance analysis, detection limits (2σ) of 0.20?Mm^?1 at 671?nm, 0.22?Mm^?1 at 532?nm, and 0.90?Mm^?1 at 473?nm have been achieved in 100?s data acquisition for the RGB-DPAS instrument.

Copyright © 2018 American Association for Aerosol Research     

A 2.7-V 900-MHz/1.9-GHz dual-band transceiver IC for digitalwireless communication

A 2.7-V 900-MHz/1.9-GHz dual-band transceiver IC consisting of receive, transmit, and local oscillator (LO) sections is presented. The transmit section achieves an unwanted sideband suppression of -43 dBc, LO leakage of -59 dBc, and third-order spurious rejection of -70 dBc. The transmit output noise level is -165 dBc/Hz at a 20-MHz offset from the carrier. The on-chip very high-frequency oscillator has a phase-noise level of -106 dBc/Hz at 100-kHz offset when operating at 800 MHz. The receive section has 36 dB of gain with 36 dB of gain range in 12-dB steps. The transceiver IC has been fabricated using a 25-GHz f_t silicon bipolar process and is designed to operate over a supply-voltage range of 2.7-5.0 V     

Availability and desirability of various skills in candidates for positions in counseling centers: A replication.

Designed a modified replication of A. Southworth's (1972) survey to identify any changes in the judged availability and desirability of skills among doctoral candidates for counseling center positions. 213 college and university counseling center directors served as the judges of the 26 skill items. Results indicate that on 12 of the items there was a significant change between the 1972 and 1977 surveys in the availability of skills; suggesting that in 1977 (a) directors were more concerned with campus-wide issues and efficiency of delivery of services, (b) the graduates of training departments had acquired significantly more skills than their predecessors, and (c) considerable discrepancy remains between availability and desirability of skills for college counseling center work. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some general principles for university counseling centers.

Identified 14 guiding principles for the maintenance and development of university and college centers. Some of these principles are that core staff members be fully trained professional psychologists, that the center be based on an educational model of behavior rather than a model of disease, and that no single theoretical orientation be utilized. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceived hierarchy of help-giving sources for two categories of student problems.

168 undergraduates ranked 12 help sources in terms of perceived potential for help with 2 categories of problems-emotional and educational-vocational. Problem type, sex of Ss, and counseling experience after high school did not significantly discriminate between the rankings given help-givers. However, high school counseling experience of Ss did significantly discriminate between the rankings. For emotional concerns, Ss ranked student friend 1st, an older friend 2nd, and parents 3rd. For educational-vocational problems, Ss ranked faculty advisor 1st, faculty member 2nd, and student friend 3rd. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of feedback mode on counseling outcomes using the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory: Does the counselor really matter?

Assigned 32 undergraduates to 1 of 3 30-min treatments: no contact (Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory profile only), quasi-contact (audiotape and profile), or direct contact (counselor and profile). Level of information provided was held constant. Multiple and multimodal outcome measures administered at pre- and post- treatment were analyzed using chi-square analysis and analysis of covariance. Results indicate that Ss in the counselor-contact treatment requested occupational information in significantly greater numbers. Counselor contact was also significantly related to goal attainment. As an additional outcome measure, an analysis of differential treatment cost is also presented. The selection of relevant and useful client outcome measures and the equivalency of treatments with respect to information and counselor contact are discussed as considerations for research. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Length of time on a waiting list and attrition after intake.

Examined the length of time spent on a waiting list and attrition after intake in 1,688 clients at a university's counseling center. Attrition was defined as failure to attend the 1st interview after intake. Analyses revealed that time spent on the waiting list did not differentiate counseling continuers from noncontinuers for either educational/vocational or emotional/social clients. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential effects of three vocational counseling treatments.

Compared 3 treatments which included 2 self-administering counseling modes, Holland's Self-Directed Search (SDS), a modification of the SDS entitled Individual Vocational Planning (IVP), and traditional vocational counseling. 113 undergraduates seeking counseling at a college counseling center were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 treatment or control groups. Pre- and posttest scores were obtained on frequency and variety of vocational information seeking, satisfaction with treatment, and other measures. In addition, differential costs of providing the treatments were examined. Results indicate that all treatments were about equally effective as measured and the college users appeared equally satisfied with them. Cost analysis indicated that the traditional counseling treatment cost 6 times more per S than SDS and 4 times more than the IVP. Low delivery cost and comparable effectiveness provide evidence for the self-administrable treatment modes as additional alternatives to traditional methods. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)