Deck 4: Observation Skills

Question 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 to understand behavior.
C)​Mastering observation is not easy.
D)All of the above

Answer 1

D

Question 2

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

Answer 2

C

Question 3

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

Answer 3

A

Question 4

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

Question 5

Should clients match the language of the interviewer, or should the interviewer match the language and style of 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.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT an effective focus of observation?​

A)​Observe client's nonverbal behavior.
B)​Observe client's verbal behavior.
C)​Observe client's ongoing thoughts.
D)Observe client's discrepancies in verbal and nonverbal behavior.

Question 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

Question 8

According to Weijun Zhang's essay, some Native Americans 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

Question 9

A good communication connection between the client and interviewer can be observed through harmonious, but nonidentical movements. These movements are known as ____.

A)​movement synchrony
B)​movement complementarity
C)​movement dissynchrony
D)none of these types of movement

Question 10

In Northern European-North American, middle-class culture, which of the following types of body language may suggest a client wanting to close off a topic?​

A)​Complete avoidance of eye contact
B)​Arms closed tightly over the chest
C)​Trunk leaning away from the interviewer
D)All of these

Question 11

What is the nonverbal percentage of most communications?​

A)​95%
B)​85%
C)​75%
D)65%

Question 12

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

Question 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

Question 14

The term ____ is used to describe people mirroring each other's body language.

A)​symmetrical conversation
B)​movement synchrony
C)​dereflection
D)movement complementarity

Question 15

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.

Question 16

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.

Question 17

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

Question 18

Which of the following types of body language may indicate openness to discussing 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

Question 19

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.

Question 20

Weijun Zhang points out that ____.

A)Native American modes of expression are similar to African American modes
B)​African American and Native American modes are different
C)​European American and Native American modes are similar
D)none of these

Question 21

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."

Question 22

The client jiggles his or her legs nervously while talking about a forthcoming medical examination. This is a ____.

A)​discrepancy between statements 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

Question 23

"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

Question 24

Two major client communication styles are presented in the:​

A)​Cognitive Concrete Continuum
B)​Abstraction Ladder
C)​Thinking Chart
D)Daily Thoughts Record

Question 25

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 tending to talk about what interviewers seem to listen to.
D)clients selectively focusing on their interests, regardless of the interviewer's interventions.

Question 26

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

Question 27

"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

Question 28

"Unemployment just reached 11%. It's not my fault if I don't have a job." This statement 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

Question 29

"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

Question 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."

Question 31

Which of the following statements represents 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 alcoholics. Last night, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I left the house. Now I don't have anywhere to stay tonight."

Question 32

"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

Question 33

It is important to note when clients present observable discrepancies. A client may speak pleasantly about a friend while simultaneously clenching his or her fist. These discrepancies are known as ____.

A)​discrepancy and conflict between people
B)​discrepancy in verbal statement
C)​discrepancy between statement and nonverbal behavior
D)none of the above

Question 34

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

Question 35

Stereotyping a client:​

A)​is useful to determine which microskills to apply during a session.
B)​is relatively easy with multicultural clients.
C)​is discriminatory and naïve.
D)is determined by the acculturation of individual clients.

Question 36

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 because he is now an American."
D)None of these

Question 37

"I am doing well on this examination," said by a European American or European Canadian, middle-class student with eyes downcast. This 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

Question 38

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.

Question 39

"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

Question 40

"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

Question 41

____ "Why did this happen to me?"​

Question 42

____ "This office has not promoted any women in the last five years."​

Question 43

____ "My child has been diagnosed with ADHD."​

Question 44

"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 a situation
D)nonverbal behaviors

Question 45

Instructions: Which of the following client statements represents concrete client statements, and which represents abstract/formal operational thought?​​Cfor concrete client statement​Afor abstract/formal operational thought​____ "I feel mixed-up and confused."

Question 46

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

Question 47

Your client says, "I agree with you, but will 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.

Question 48

____ "That is sexist."​

Question 49

____ "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."​

Question 50

____ "My dad and mom are both alcoholics. Last night, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I left the house. Now I don't have anywhere to stay tonight."​

Question 51

____ "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 because he is now an American."​

Question 52

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 override the actual words used by you and the client.

Question 53

____ "Joe got angry with me because the dinner was a little cold, and he knocked the dishes off the table."​

Question 54

____ "I went to a movie last night. We walked in, and I saw my friend Jim. Then we bought popcorn and we sat down."​

Question 55

____ "My family is difficult."​

Question 56

Observation is the act of watching carefully and intentionally with the purpose of understanding behavior.

Question 57

____ "The school is racist."​

Question 58

____ "My lover is mean to me."

Question 59

In observing a client's 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

Question 60

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 offer feedback observations to the client as discussion topics.
D)All of these

Question 61

Observation can enable you to learn as much about yourself and your counseling skills as you do about your clients.

Question 62

Describe briefly the nonverbal indicators you might expect to find if your client is uncomfortable in the interview.

Question 63

Define five types of client discrepancies, and provide one example of each.

Question 64

What have you learned about your own nonverbal and verbal behavior and its impact on others?

Question 65

Turn now to "other" statements. Clients may present with little sense of how others relate to their individual issues. How would you facilitate client growth by helping clients understand themselves in relation to others? What might their pre- and post-interviewing/counseling statements be from this perspective?​

Question 66

A client may come to a first interview with a negative "I" statement. One way to define the objective of counseling is turning negative statements into positives.​Illustrate this point with case examples. What type of statements 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.

Question 67

Discuss the importance of the concrete-abstract distinction and how it can be useful in the counseling and interviewing process. Provide specific examples of each type of communication.

Question 68

Outline possible differences in nonverbal communications between two cultural groups of your own selection (for example, Asian Canadians compared with European Canadian, Native Canadian/Canadien with African Canadians, European Americans with Latinas/Latinos). After you have made these comparisons, please review your statements, and comment on the dangers of stereotyping.

Question 69

What are the concepts of movement synchrony and movement complementarity? How are they demonstrated in interviewing and why are they important?​