Finally, charts were compiled for each item showing the percentage of each response divided between counselors and administrators and as percentages of the whole, with responses quantified and averaged at this point as well. This allowed for the inclusion of a Mantel-Haenszel Chi-Square analysis, also shown on the charts, to determine the degree to which counselor and administrator responses to the instrument items differed, or if any statistically significant differences existed at all. Each of these steps in the statistical analysis of the raw data collected is clearly justified by the effects of such analysis; few manipulations were employed that ran a risk of eroding validity or encouraging misinterpretation.
The results of the statistical analysis were fairly clear in many cases, though there were also areas where statistically significant differences were not found to exist between behavioral health counselors and administrators. Even when differences were found, in fact, these differences did not necessarily have practical import on the subject being studied; access to technology was rated quite highly by both groups, despite significantly...
Though there was a statistically significant spread between administrators and counselors in this area, bit groups reported quite high levels of access to technology, and thus no practical barrier exists for counselors in this area despite their lag compared to administrators. Other areas showed similar results, with some differences being noted but with both counselors and administrators generally reporting a mid- to high-level of preparedness to engage in distance learning; counselors were notably higher in terms of preparedness for Internet communication, but administrators were not significantly lacking in this regard themselves -- simply the reverse of the technological access trend.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that despite relative preparedness for both behavioral health counselors and administrators to engage in distance learning, there are differences in these groups that need to be addressed. Work styles and expectations could be partially responsible for the differences noted in this study. Further research is required to ascertain the reasons for these differences.
