Research suggests that most college and beginning graduate students lack the cognitive complexity required to engage in effective practical and ethical reasoning. Studies on cognitive development support the view that how people approach complex problems varies significantly depending on the underlying epistemic assumptions they use to guide their…

Assessed counselor trainees' problem solving skills before and after participation in two training programs. Results provide evidence that trainees learning core conditions, and a nondirective interview style show equal problem-solving effectiveness compared to counselors trained in a directive style. (Author/JAC)