Research in Roger’s Theory

Rogers believed that person-centered interviews, which rely on clients’ self-reports, were of greater value than experimental methods. Rogers did not use laboratory methods to collect data about personality, although he did use data to attempt to verify and confirm his clinical observations. Rogers used the tape recorder to film therapy, which could be played back to examine what he described as “the molecules of personality change.” He always obtained the client’s permission to record the sessions and he found that the presence of the equipment did not impede the course of therapy.

Evaluating Person-Center Therapy:
Rogers used the Q-sort technique to study how the self-concept changes during a course of therapy. Basically Q-sort technique is a self-report technique for assessing aspects of the self-concept. Typical Q-sort statements include the following-
I enjoy being alone,
I feel helpless
I am emotionally mature
But clients would sort through a large number of statements on cards that were about the self-concept. The client would ask themselves; what is my perceived self concerning whom I am now, and what is my perceived self in terms of an ideal self, that is, the person I would most like to be etc.

A study by Rogers’s associated, measured the discrepancy between perceived self and ideal self in 25 clients. And it found that the discrepancy decreased over time during and following therapy. Before therapy the average correlation was .01 and after therapy it was +.31.

Openness to Experience:
Additional studies include work with college students and Roger’s proposition that fully functioning persons are open to all experiences, whereas psychologically unhealthy persons erect defenses to protect themselves against experiences that threaten their self-image. This research result showed that all research participants were slower to perceive threatening words than neutral word that is closer the two sets of Q sort statements.

Acceptance to self:
A study of 56 mothers explored the relationship between self-acceptance and the extent to which they accepted their children as they were, rather than as they desired them to be. Other studies also supported Roger’s belief that parental behavior affects a child’s self-image. Studies were also conducted on Roger’s suggestion that incongruence between the perceived self and the ideal self indicates poor emotional adjustment. Roger’s found broad application for his therapy as a treatment for emotional disturbances and also as a means of enhancing the self-image.

Emotional Adjustment:
Several studies provide support for Roger’s suggestion that incongruence between perceived self and ideal self indicates poor emotional adjustment. Researcher concluded that the greater the discrepancy, the higher the anxiety, insecurity, self doubt, depression, social incompetence and other psychological disorder. Also, high inconsistency between perceived and ideal self correlates with low levels of self actualization and self esteem. On the other hand Rogers believed that failure to realize our innate actualization tendency can lead to maladjustment.