A Comparison of Conflict Tactics in the Supervisory Process

Abstract

This study investigated three different tactics clinical supervisors in communication disorders predicted they would use in a specific conflict situation. One hundred-sixty supervisors were asked to read one of three case scenarios describing a conflict situation within the supervisory process. All scenarios depicted a student-clinician who had not completed a reading assignment requested by the supervisor. The scenarios differed only in the supervisee’s response to the supervisor’s question about the incomplete assignment. Subjects were asked to indicate how likely they might be to use each of 15 comments that reflected categories of conflict tactics: avoidance, competitive, or collaborative tactics. Supervisors’ choice of tactics differed depending on the response of the supervisee. Overall, supervisors most often chose collaborative responses, followed by avoidance responses and (least often) competitive responses. Implications are discussed in terms of impact on the supervisory process in communication disorders.