Relationships Among Relational Communication Processes and Perceptions of Outcomes in Conjoint Behavioral Consultation

Conjoint behavioral consultation (CBC), an extension of behavioral consultation, considers home and school settings when conceptualizing a student's difficulty (Sheridan, Kratochwill, & Bergan, 1996). A relational communication perspective was adopted to examine interpersonal control (i.e., attempts to influence and successfully influence) and its relationship to CBC outcomes. Consultant, teacher, and parent influence was measured in 20 CBC initial interviews using the Family Relational Communication Control Coding System (Heatherington & Friedlander, 1987), and outcomes were assessed regarding the acceptability/effectiveness of CBC, consultant effectiveness, and attainment of consultation goals. Results indicated that parental influence is associated with less favorable teacher ratings regarding model acceptability/effectiveness and less favorable parent ratings of goal attainment. Results further suggest that greater importance should be placed on parent behavior with respect to outcomes of CBC.