Role of Shared Experience: A Preference Study

Abstract

In this study the role of shared experience was investigated by analyzing the preferences of 30 counseling students for 6 counselor characteristics, including shared experience. Subjects assigned to three different types of problems marked their preferences for these variables. Significant effects for counselors' characteristics were noted. There were no significant differences among the types of problems, however. The students preferred a counselor with professional experience with a particular problem significantly more than one with personal experience. However, they preferred to have a counselor with personal experience more than ones of a certain socio-economic status or of a certain race. The characteristics of age and sex were preferred as much as personal experience.