Validation of a Communication Process Measure for Coding Control in Counseling.

The validity of the Relational Communication Coding System (Ericson & Rogers, 1973) was directly assessed in a two-factor design. This instrument operationalizes the constructs of symmetry and complementarity in human communication process, following the work of Bateson (1936) and other researchers (Sluzki & Beavin, J965/1977) in the "interactional" or "systems" tradition. Subjects were 242 undergraduates in 10 groups who listened to one cf five audiotaped interactions, after being told either that the pair was a) a husband and wife or b) a counselor and client. Each interaction was "loaded" with one type of symmetrical or complementary communication pattern. The effects of pattern, context (marital vs. counseling), and their interaction on subjects' perceptions of the relationship control were examined. The results generally supported the use of this measure for counseling process research.