INTERPERSONAL SKILL TRAINING FOR SOCIAL WORKERS IN SMALL GROUPS Sheldon D. Rose Jeffrey L. Edleson ABSTRACT. This study evaluates the effectiveness ofa small-group training program aimed at teaching social workers those interpersonal skills necessary for effective practice. Participants were taught to deal with critical situations commonly en. countered by professional social workers intheir clinical practice. Modeling, overt and covert rehearsal, videotaped and verbal feedback, coaching. behavioral assignments, delegation of POUP leadership, and other small group procedures were utilized in the training program. Participants met in small groups offour to six members for 2.hour sessions each week over a period o f 6 weeks. The results ofthe study indicated that, following training, the participants were significantly (p ,011 more effective than the controls in dealing with both trained and untrained items on a behavior role-play test.Methodological limitations, implications for fiturc research on small-group training of social workers, and training of group leaders are discussed. Social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and various other helping professionals rely extensively on the clinical interview as a major source of diagnostic information and a format for intervention. It is most often in the clinical interview where the worker develops a relationship with clients, elicits relevant informa- tion, and assists clients in decidingon a change strategy. The worker's knowledge of assessment and intervention procedures does not guar- antee that he or she will effectively communicate this knowledge or assist clients in resolving present problems (Combs, Avila, & Purkey, 1971). Sheldon D. Rose and Jcffrey L. Bdleson teach in the School of Social Work, 425 Henry Mall, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706. The authors are gateful for Nancy Buechcl, Jay Cayner, Jeffrey Court, Gail Dempsey, Diannc Massaro, Kevin Murphy, Linda Paricio, Eileen Riley, Cindy Rosner, and William Wenerowicz, who assisted in the development of the instruments and/or leadership of the groups. This study was carried out as part of the Interpersonal Skill Training and Research Project of thc School of Social Work of the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Downloaded by [University of California, Berkeley] at 21:53 21 March 2016