One measure of supervisory effectiveness in speech-language pathology and audiology

This investigation developed and utilized a methodology for studying the follow-through of student clinicians from supervisory conferences to later activities. Based upon an earlier investigation in which 1,389 commitments made by 64 supervisees were identified and analyzed, completion of each commitment was measured in this investigation to determine if specific behaviors of clinicians occur after making commitments in supervisory conferences. Results indicated that clinicians demonstrate greater completion of commitments when structured accountability (i.e., written agreement) is introduced early into and subsequently faded from supervisory conferences, and that the written agreement is more beneficial for beginning clinicians than for experienced clincians. Of utmost importance was the demonstration that specific behaviors of supervisees can be followed and measured over time, and that certain behaviors of clinicians occur as a direct result of commitments made during conferences with a supervisor.