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Chapter 4—Observation Skills
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is TRUE about observation?
a.
Observation is the act of watching carefully and intentionally.
b.
The goal of observation is understand behavior.
c.
Mastering observation is not easy.
d.
All of the above.
2. What is the non-verbal percentage of most communications?
a.
95%
b.
85%
c.
75%
d.
65%
3. Which of the following is a FALSE assertion about self-observation?
a.
By turning observation inward, you can tune into your own reactions.
b.
Accurate self-observation will help you examine what lies within the client.
c.
Self-observation provides you with a compass to guide you through the session.
d.
Self-observation is a process of self-awareness that may lead to growth and change.
4. Observation is:
a.
secondary to attending and questioning skills.
b.
less important when you videotape interview sessions.
c.
focusing only on your client’s speech in the interview.
d.
vital to establishing a helping relationship.
5. When you use observation skills competently as an interviewer, you can predict the client will ____.
a.
often become very defensive
b.
pay more attention to interviewer instructions
c.
often demonstrate movement symmetry or complementarity
d.
express more emotional release
6. Which of the following is NOT an effective focus of observation?
a.
Observe client's non-verbal behavior.
b.
Observe client's verbal behavior.
c.
Observe client's ongoing thoughts.
d.
Observe client's discrepancies in verbal and non-verbal behavior.
7. When clients talk about topics that are uncomfortable to them, one may expect all EXCEPT which of
the following?
a.
Direct, angry eye contact and a more aggressive body posture
b.
Shifts in eye contact patterns, body movement, and changing vocal qualities
c.
Slower vocal qualities coupled with shifts in eye contact patterns
d.
Hesitation and attempt to change topic
8. Which of the following body languages may indicate opening to discuss a topic?
a.
Sitting in a slouched, completely resting position
b.
Sitting upright, legs somewhat open, palms up
c.
Turning away slightly with direct eye contact
d.
Licking the lips, heavy breathing, and a running nose
9. In Northern European-North American, middle-class culture, which of the following body language
may suggest client wanting to close off a topic?
a.
Complete avoidance of eye contact
b.
Arms closed tightly over the chest
c.
Trunk lean away from the interviewer
d.
All of these
10. According to Weijun Zhang's essay, some Native American Indians may not ask questions in public
because ____.
a.
questions may put the other person on the spot
b.
they disagree with what is being said by the teacher or speaker
c.
they agree with what is being said by the teacher or speaker
d.
they don't want to draw attention to themselves
11. Weijun Zhang points out that ____.
a.
American Indian modes of expression are similar to African American
b.
African American and American Indian modes are different
c.
European American and American Indian modes are similar
d.
none of these
12. Speaking of varying cultural orientations to family, Weijun Zhang comments that:
a.
we must often explore family issues with Hispanic-American clients.
b.
the nuclear family is central in Hispanic-American culture.
c.
the extended family is important in Hispanic-American culture.
d.
a and c.
13. The interview with Kyle Yellowhorse demonstrated that ____.
a.
multicultural differences may lead to a slow start
b.
establishing trust among diverse individuals is not an issue
c.
self-disclosure and story-sharing can be helpful
d.
exploration of positive assets can be useful
14. Which of the following alternatives may help you as you begin sessions?
a.
Patience
b.
A good sense of humor
c.
Talk about neutral subjects
d.
All of the above
15. Which cultural group has been shown more holistic thinking?
a.
European Americans
b.
South Americans
c.
Southern Europeans
d.
Japanese
16. Blacks and Whites exhibit greater brain activation when they:
a.
see exciting movies.
b.
watch through a one-way mirror and see pain inflicted on another person.
c.
see faces that look like their own.
d.
see faces that look different from their own.
17. When the client and the interviewer are communicating well, they "mirror" each other's body
language. This is known as ____.
a.
movement synchrony
b.
movement complementarity
c.
movement dissynchrony
d.
none of these types of movement
18. The term ____ is used to describe people mirroring each other's body language.
a.
symmetrical conversation
b.
movement synchrony
c.
dereflection
d.
movement complementarity
19. When movements do not mirror one another between a client and an interviewer, but still remain in
harmony (a head nod may follow a comment by the other), this is termed
a.
movement synchrony
b.
symmetrical conversation
c.
a double bind
d.
movement complementarity
20. A good communication connection between client and interviewer can be observed through
harmonious, but non-identical movements. These movements are known as ____.
a.
movement synchrony
b.
movement complementarity
c.
movement dissynchrony
d.
none of these types of movement
21. Which of the following is the best definition of acculturation?
a.
Giving up one's own culture and embracing a new culture.
b.
Maintaining one's own culture while embracing the new.
c.
The degree to which an individual has adopted the norms of behaving in a given culture.
d.
The degree to which an individual has learned how to behave in a culturally appropriate
way.
22. What is acculturation?
a.
Accurately identifying the ethnic background of a given client.
b.
The process of growth experienced by the client during helping sessions.
c.
The degree to which a person adopts the standard way of behaving in a given culture.
d.
None of the above.
23. Should clients match the language of the interviewer, or should the interviewer match language and
style with the client?
a.
Clients should be referred to helping professionals who match their style.
b.
Interviewers should always strive to match the client's style.
c.
Client and interviewer language and styles synchronize in the session.
d.
Both options can be appropriate given the client and the situation.
24. Selective attention is best described in interviewing as:
a.
ignoring comments from clients that are not productive.
b.
supporting clients when they talk about positive assets.
c.
clients tend to talk about what interviewers listen to.
d.
clients selectively focusing their interests, regardless of interviewer interventions.
25. "He does this to me all the time. It never stops. It's what he does to everyone all the time." This is an
example of ____.
a.
selective attention
b.
key words
c.
concrete / situational language
d.
abstract / formal operational language
26. Stereotyping a client:
a.
is useful to determine which microskills to apply during a session.
b.
is relatively easy within multicultural clients.
c.
is discriminatory and naïve.
d.
is determined by the acculturation of individual clients.
27. Which of the following statements represent a concrete client statement?
a.
"I feel mixed-up and confused."
b.
"Why did this happen to me?"
c.
"I went to a movie last night, we walked in and I saw my friend Jim. Then we bought
popcorn and we sat down."
d.
"My lover is mean to me."
28. Two major client communication styles are presented in the:
a.
Cogntive Concrete Continuum
b.
Abstraction Ladder
c.
Thinking Chart
d.
Daily Thoughts Records
29. Which of the following statements represent an abstract / formal operational thought statement?
a.
"My family is difficult."
b.
"Joe got angry with me because the dinner was a little cold and he knocked the dishes off
the table."
c.
"I went to a movie last night, we walked in and I saw my friend Jim. Then we bought
popcorn and we sat down."
d.
"My dad and mom are both alcoholic. Last night, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I left the
house. Now I don't have anywhere to stay tonight."
30. Which of the following statements represent a concrete client statement?
a.
"That is sexist."
b.
"My child is very active physically and talks pretty fast. He can get so enthused about
something that he knocks over things. Yet, he is able to carry on a conversation and pays
attention when I read to him. I wonder why they want to label all this as ADHD."
c.
"The school is racist."
d.
"My lover is mean to me."
31. Which of the following statements represent an abstract / formal operational thought statement?
a.
"My child is very active physically and talks pretty fast. He can get so enthused about
something that he knocks over things. Yet, he is able to carry on a conversation and pays
attention when I read to him. I wonder why they want to label all this as ADHD."
b.
"This office has not promoted any women in the last five years."
c.
"I dropped my child off at school and said 'good-bye' in my native language as that is what
we speak at home. A teacher came by and told my son that he had to stop using our
language as he is now an American."
d.
None of these.
32. The collectivist orientation in many cultural groups emphasize:
a.
"I" statements.
b.
"Other" statements.
c.
Sharing perceptions of the collective community.
d.
Noting discrepancies with the majority culture.
33. To understand how your client feels about a topic, it is usually helpful to:
a.
reinforce "I statements" by repetition of key words.
b.
mirror the body posture of the client.
c.
enhance client experiencing by encouraging discussion of emotions.
d.
all of the above.
34. To help clients see themselves in relation to others:
a.
reinforce "Other statements" by repetition of key words.
b.
ask questions such as "How might the other person tell the same story?"
c.
use role-playing.
d.
all of the above.
35. "I can't do it at all," when said with congruent nonverbal gestures, is an example of ____.
a.
a negative "I statement"
b.
discrepant nonverbal communication
c.
selective attention
d.
verbal underlining
36. Discrepancies may be observed between:
a.
a client and a situation.
b.
verbal statements.
c.
what one says and what one does.
d.
all of the above.
37. It is important to note when clients present observable discrepancies. A client may speak pleasantly
about a friend while simultaneously clenching their fist. These discrepancies are known as ____.
a.
movement synchrony
b.
movement complementarity
c.
movement dissynchrony
d.
none of the above
38. "I'm really angry right now," said while smiling, is an example of a ____.
a.
discrepancy between a verbal statement and a nonverbal behavior
b.
discrepancy between what one says and what one explains
c.
discrepancy between a client and a situation
d.
discrepancy in nonverbal behaviors
39. "I'm not bothered by that," said with a flushed face and a closed fist, is an example of which of the
following?
a.
Discrepancies in nonverbal behaviors
b.
Discrepancies in verbal statements
c.
Discrepancies between what one says and what one reasons
d.
Discrepancies between statements and nonverbal behavior
40. "My son is perfect; he just doesn't respect me." This is an example of which of the following?
a.
Discrepancies in nonverbal behaviors
b.
Discrepancies in verbal statements
c.
Discrepancies between what one says and what one does
d.
None of the above
41. "I really love my brother," said in a quiet tone with averted eyes, is an example of which of the
following?
a.
Discrepancies in nonverbal behaviors
b.
Discrepancies in verbal statements
c.
Discrepancies between what one says and what one does
d.
Discrepancies between statements and arguments
42. The client is smiling, but his/her knuckles are white from clinched fists. This is an example of a ____.
a.
discrepancy in nonverbal behaviors
b.
discrepancy in verbal statements
c.
discrepancy between what one says and what one does
d.
discrepancy between statements and verbal behavior
43. The client jiggles his or her legs nervously while talking about a forthcoming medical examination.
This is a ____.
a.
discrepancy between statement and other verbal behavior
b.
discrepancy between what one says and what one does
c.
discrepancy between a client and a situation
d.
discrepancy in nonverbal behaviors
44. "I am doing well on this examination," said by a European American or European Canadian, middle-
class student with eyes downcast, shows a discrepancy between ____.
a.
two verbal statements
b.
what one says and what one reasons
c.
statements and nonverbal behavior
d.
the client and a situation
45. "Unemployment just reached 11%. It's not my fault if I don't have a job" shows a discrepancy between
____.
a.
two verbal statements
b.
the client and a situation
c.
what one says and what one does
d.
statements and nonverbal behavior
46. "I deserve to pass this course even though I haven't done the homework." This shows a discrepancy
between ____.
a.
two verbal statements
b.
what one says and what one does
c.
the client and situation
d.
nonverbal behaviors
47. Your client says, “I agree with you, but would not do what you suggested.” This shows a discrepancy
between:
a.
two verbal statements.
b.
what one says and what one does.
c.
you and the client.
d.
nonverbal behaviors.
48. Which of the following is a valid element of observation skills?
a.
Observe your own and the client's verbal and nonverbal behavior.
b.
Anticipate individual and multicultural differences.
c.
Carefully and selectively feedback observations to the client as discussion topics.
d.
All of these.
49. Which of the following is TRUE?
a.
How you say something is less important than what you say, particularly if you say it
clearly.
b.
There is less need to say things clearly if you say them well.
c.
How something is said always is more important than what is actually said.
d.
How something is said can sometimes overrule the actual words used by you and the
client.
50. In observing client nonverbal patterns, one should:
a.
note the context in which the observation occurs.
b.
describe the observation in clear behavioral terms.
c.
separate your observation from your impression.
d.
all of the above.
51. Even the most advanced professional doesn’t always know what is happening. What can you do when
you don’t know what to do?
a.
Question
b.
Attend
c.
Interrupt
d.
Challenge
COMPLETION
Instructions: Which of the following client statements represent concrete client statements and which
represent abstract/formal operational thought?
C
for concrete client statement
A
for abstract/formal operational thought
1. ____ "I feel mixed-up and confused."
2. ____ "Why did this happen to me?"
3. ____ "I went to a movie last night, we walked in and I saw my friend Jim. Then we bought popcorn
and we sat down."
4. ____ "My lover is mean to me."
5. ____ "Joe got angry with me because the dinner was a little cold and he knocked the dishes off the
table."
6. ____ "My family is difficult."
7. ____ "My dad and mom are both alcoholic. Last night, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I left the house.
Now I don't have anywhere to stay tonight."
8. ____ "My child has been diagnosed with ADHD."
9. ____ "My child is very active physically and talks pretty fast. He can get so enthused about something
that he knocks over things. Yet, he is able to carry on a conversation and pays attention when I read to
him. I wonder why they want to label all this as ADHD."
10. ____ "That is sexist."
11. ____ "This office has not promoted any women in the last five years."
12. ____ "The school is racist."
13. ____ "I dropped my child off at school and said 'good-bye' in my native language as that is what we
speak at home. A teacher came by and told my son that he had to stop using our language as he is now
an American."
TRUE/FALSE
1. Observation is the act of watching carefully and intentionally with the purpose of understanding
behavior.
2. Observation can enable you to learn as much about yourself and your counseling skills as you do about
your clients.
ESSAY
1. Describe briefly the nonverbal indicators you might expect to find if your client is uncomfortable in
the interview.
2. What are the concepts of movement synchrony and movement complementarity? How are they
demonstrated in interviewing and why are they important?
3. A client may come to a first interview with a negative “I” statement. One way to define the objective
of counseling is to turn negative statements into positives.
Illustrate this point with case examples. What type of statments might a client make differently in the
pre-interview than they do in the post-interview?
a.
a career confused client?
b.
a depressed client?
c.
a client who does not know how to find a job?
d.
a client who is having difficulty with his or her spouse?
In each example, write negative “I” statements the client might make and positive “I” statements that
might appear after successful counseling.
4. Turn now to “other” statements. The client may present with little sense of how others relate to her or
his individual issues. How would you facilitate client growth by helping them understand themselves
in relation to others? What might their pre- and post-interviewing/counseling statements be from this
perspective?
5. Define five types of client discrepancies and provide one example of each.
6. Outline possible differences in nonverbal communications between two cultural groups of your own
selection (for example, Asian Canadians compared with European Canadian, Native
Canadian/Canadiene with African Canadians, European Americans with Latina/Latino's). After you
have made these comparisons, please review your statements and comment on the dangers of
stereotyping.
7. What have you learned about your own nonverbal and verbal behavior and its impact on others?
8. Discuss the importance of the concrete-abstract distinction and how it can be useful in the counseling
and interviewing process. Provide specific illustration of each type of communication.
