Differential perceptions of counselor tasks among five selected groups

The central purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of perceptions of specific counselor tasks among parents, students, teachers, administrators, and counselors within a moderately large independent public school system in Texas. The basic premise underlying the investigation was that differences exist in the way significant others perceive the role and function of secondary school counselors and that these perceptual differences engender dissonance and contribute to role conflict on the part of the counselor. Specifically, the study sought to: (a) confirm the existence of these perceptual differences, (b) determine the source of their origin and intensity, (c) assess the impact which certain personal attributes and background variables have on role perception, and (d) formulate recommendations which might be used as a basis for developing strategies to neutralize any deleterious effects and maximize any potential benefits deriving from differential perceptions. [...]