Quality Professionals: Does Training Make a Difference? A Personal Construct Theory Study of the Issue

A shortened group form of the Construct Repertory Test was used to study common characteristics and changes that take place in outlook during training. The personal perceptions and attitudes of a group of good social-work students, as compared to their older and more experienced supervisors, were studied in a design based on Kelly's Personal Construct theory (1955). Significant differences (P < 0.01) were found between the superordinate constructs of the two groups. The student group used most often concrete descriptive categories, such as age, sex and profession. Primary figures, such as father, mate or best same-sex friend, were the most influential in their construing process. The constructs of their supervisors showed a more abstract ability of concern with themselves, others and their task. Their concepts centred on the professional ideal and revealed an internalization of cherished values. The study suggests a developmental pattern of concept internalization, from the more concrete to the more abstract, from leaning on immediate external cues to relying on oneself and aspiring for professional ideals. This change is consistent with the goal of academic training in social work.