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Loyd S. Pettegrew, Richard C. Thomas, Communicator Style Differences in Formal vs. Informal Therapeutic Relationships, Communication Yearbook, Volume 2, Issue 1, December 1978, Pages 523–537, https://doi.org/10.1080/23808985.1978.11923747
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Abstract
This paper presents the results of the second in a series of empirical investigations on communicator style in therapeutic relationships. This study focuses upon perceived therapist communicator style from the perspective of their helpees. A rationale is provided for studying potential stylistic differences between therapists in formal and informal therapeutic relationships. The nature of these two types of relationships are detailed and several research expectations are advanced. A global assessment of the interrelationships between the variables in the Therapeutic Communicator Style Measure is made. A configural comparison is performed on the TCSM variables for the formal and informal samples, and the structural reliability is confirmed by the results. Central tendency differences are assessed for each TCSM variable between test groups on both a univariate and multivariate basis. Finally, predictive relationships between the style variables and a collapsed dependent measure of positive therapeutic climate are investigated. A discussion of the results is made in light of previous research on formal and informal therapeutic relationships, and future directions for research are offered.