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UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA
INNER EXPERIENCES AND PERSONAL GROWTH WITH PERSON-CENTRED COUNSELLING AMONG MALAY FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA
MARDIANA MOHAMAD
FPP 2008 13
INNER EXPERIENCES AND PERSONAL GROWTH WITH PERSON-CENTRED COUNSELLING AMONG MALAY FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA
By
MARDIANA MOHAMAD
Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, University Putra Malaysia, in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
May 2008
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Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate of University Putra Malaysia in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
INNER EXPERIENCES AND PERSONAL GROWTH WITH PERSON-CENTRED COUNSELLING AMONG MALAY FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA
By
MARDIANA BINTI MOHAMAD
May 2008
Chairman: Associate Professor Lily Mastura Haji Harun, PhD
Faculty: Educational Studies
Despite the high regard practitioners and counsellor educators have for the person-centred approach to counselling, their main concerns in applying the approach in the Malaysian context are the lack of structure and direction in its egalitarian counsellor-client relationship style, and the counsellor’s personal qualities of genuineness, unconditional positive regard and empathy. In relation to these concerns, the study aimed to describe the inner experiences and personal growth among female Malay university students attending the person-centred counselling. Firstly, the inner experiences of the clients in the study with regard to the non-directive, egalitarian relationship as postulated by the counselling approach were described. Secondly, the clients’ inner experiences in response to the person-centred counsellor’s qualities of genuineness, unconditional positive regard and empathy were also explored. The third objective was to explore the clients’ experience of personal growth as they engaged in the process of self-exploration in a non-directive, egalitarian counselling relationship with a person-centred counsellor. Fourth,
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the study attempted to describe the indicators of personal growth based on aspects of non-verbal expressions of the clients, in their relationship with a genuine, unconditionally accepting and empathic counsellor.
The study employed the qualitative case study design. Based on purposive sampling technique, three Malay female clients participated in the study. They were students from a local university, aged twenty to twenty-four years old with situational and developmental concerns. Clients attended twelve counselling sessions conducted by the researcher who had undergone training and been certified as person-centred counsellor by three observer judges. Altogether, thirty-five counselling sessions were held for the purpose of the study. All the sessions were audio-visually recorded with the permission of the clients. The sessions were transcribed and qualitatively analysed to meet the purpose of the study. Clients were requested to write journal entries after each session. Interpersonal process recall interviews were also conducted with each client. Finally, based on the audio-visual recording of the counselling sessions, the clients’ non-verbal expressions were observed and described by the researcher.
The study indicated that the Malay clients were apprehensive at the beginning of the counselling relationship; however, as they perceived the counsellor was genuine, accepting and empathic, they became more positive with the counselling sessions and the counsellor’s personal qualities. Although some of them had expected to receive advice from the counsellor, the counsellor’s personal qualities enabled them to appreciate the
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counselling relationship despite its non-directive nature. In terms of the indicators of personal growth, the major themes include
flow of emotion, awareness of self, others and experience, personal changes, self-directed behaviour and spiritual dimension. Clients’ non-verbal behaviour also indicated some constructive changes where less rigidity and more congruent expressions were manifested by their eye-contacts, body posture, hand and arm gestures, vocal cues, eyes and facial expressions.
The findings provided information on the inner experiences and personal growth of the Malay female clients participated in person-centred counselling. Limitations and implications of the study were discussed, and recommendations for future research were provided.
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Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia sebagai memenuhi keperluan untuk ijazah Doktor Falsafah
PENGALAMAN DALAMAN DAN PERKEMBANGAN PERIBADI MELALUI KAUNSELING PEMUSATAN INSAN DI KALANGAN PELAJAR UNIVERSITI WANITA MELAYU DI MALAYSIA
Oleh
MARDIANA BINTI MOHAMAD
Mei 2008
Pengerusi: Professor Madya Lily Mastura Haji Harun, PhD
Fakulti: Pengajian Pendidikan
Walau pun pengamal dan pendidik kaunselor memandang tinggi terhadap teori kaunseling pemusatan klien, permasalahan utama dalam mengaplikasi teori ini dalam konteks Malaysia ialah berkenaan dengan kekurangan struktur dan arahan dalam perhubungan sama rata di antara kaunselor dan klien, dan penekanan terhadap kualiti peribadi kaunselor iaitu ketulenan, penerimaan tanpa syarat dan empati.
Sehubungan dengan itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menerangkan pengalaman dalaman dan perkembangan peribadi yang dialami oleh pelajar wanita Melayu yang menyertai kaunseling pemusatan insan. Pertama, pengalaman dalaman klien terhadap perhubungan bersifat ‘non-directive’ dan sama rata di antara kaunselor dan klien yang dianjurkan oleh teori kaunseling ini telah diterangkan. Kedua, pengalaman dalaman klien terhadap kualiti kaunselor pemusatan insan iaitu ketulenan, penerimaan tanpa syarat
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dan empati juga diterokai. Tujuan yang ketiga ialah untuk meneroka pembangunan kendiri klien apabila mereka menjalani proses ‘self-exploration’ di dalam perhubungan ‘non-directive’ dan sama rata bersama kaunselor pemusatan insan. Keempat, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menerangkan tanda-tanda perkembangan peribadi klien berdasarkan aspek ekspresi tanpa lisan yang dipamerkan oleh klien dalam perhubungan mereka dengan kaunselor yang bersikap tulen, menerima tanpa syarat dan empati.
Kajian ini menggunakan kajian kes kualitatif. Berdasarkan teknik persampelan bertujuan, tiga orang klien wanita telah menyertai kajian ini. Mereka terdiri daripada pelajar di sebuah institusi pengajian tinggi awam, berusia antara dua puluh sehingga dua puluh empat tahun yang sedang menghadapi masalah situasi dan pembangunan. Klien menghadiri dua belas sesi kaunseling yang diadakan oleh pengkaji yang telah menjalani latihan dan diperakui sebagai kaunselor pemusatan insan oleh tiga orang hakim pemerhati. Keseluruhannya, tiga puluh lima sesi kaunseling telah dijalankan. Kesemua sesi kaunseling telah dirakam secara audio dan visual atas kebenaran klien. Sesi-sesi ditranskripkan dan dianalisa secara kualitatif. Setiap kali selepas sesi, klien diminta membuat catatan jurnal mengenai sesi yang mereka hadiri. Kaedah interviu ‘interpersonal process recall’ juga dijalankan dengan setiap klien. Akhirnya, melalui rakaman sesi kaunseling, tingkahlaku bukan lisan klien juga diperhatikan dan diterangkan oleh pengkaji.
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Kajian ini mendapati bahawa klien berasa kurang selesa dan risau pada peringkat awal sesi kaunseling; bagaimana pun, apabila mereka mendapati kaunselor bersikap tulen, menerima dan empati, mereka menjadi lebih positif terhadap sesi kaunseling dan kualiti peribadi kaunselor. Sesetengah daripada mereka berharap untuk mendapatkan nasihat dan bimbingan pada peringkat awal perhubungan kaunseling, tetapi, kualiti peribadi kaunselor membuatkan mereka menghargai perhubungan kaunseling tersebut yang bersifat ‘non-directive’. Tentang perkembangan peribadi klien, tema utama yang didapati ialah
aliran emosi, kesedaran diri sendiri, orang lain dan pengalaman, perubahan peribadi, tingkahlaku ‘self-directed’, dan dimensi spiritual. Tingkahlaku bukan lisan klien juga menunjukkan perubahan konstruktif iaitu ekspresi yang kurang kaku dan ‘kongruen’ telah dipamerkan melalui kontak mata, gerak bahasa badan, gerakan tangan dan siku, nada suara, bahasa mata dan ekspresi wajah.
Dapatan kajian mengemukakan pengalaman dalaman dan perkembangan peribadi yang dialami oleh klien-klien wanita yang menghadiri kaunseling pemusatan insan. Limitasi dan implikasi kajian ini juga diperbincangkan, termasuk saranan untuk kajian di masa hadapan.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to express my gratitude to those who were involved either directly or indirectly in the making of this thesis. Without their guidance and assistance, it would be difficult for me to materialize this piece of work.
First of all, my utmost gratitude to the supervisory committee members who had helped me throughout the years of my study. To the chairman of the supervisory team, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lily Mastura Haji Harun, thank you so much for your understanding, support and trust. Working with you taught me that self confidence must accompany hardworking and enthusiasm must be accompanied by self confidence to ensure success. To Dr. Halimatun Halaliah Mokhtar, I am grateful for your guidance, encouragement and genuineness. From you I have learned the value of sincerity. And to Dr. Asnarulkhadi Abu Samah, I will always remember your motivation and guidance in producing qualitative work. My supervisors always inspired me with their encouragement, guidance and trust every time I saw them during the course of the study.
Secondly, my word of appreciation goes to my beloved family, particularly my husband Zahir who gives me love, encouragement and invaluable prayers. To my sons Haiqal, Danial and Nabil, your love and sacrifices are my source of inspiration. Also to my beloved parents, siblings and family members, whose blessings, understanding and prayers give me strength to keep moving and to make this thesis a reality.
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I would also like to express my gratitude to my dearest friends, Hari, Lin, Jus, Herani, Anor, Zaihan and many others who had given me their help, moral and tangible support whenever I needed them. Without your understanding and support, it might be difficult for me to complete the study. Similar gratitude is also extended to Dr. Meriam Omar Din, my person-centred counseling trainer who has been ever willing to share her precious knowledge and experiences with me, and my clients who showed their commitment while participating in the study.
Last but not least, my utmost appreciation goes to the International Islamic University Malaysia, the Public Service Department and the Higher Learning Ministry which have provided the scholarship and research grant throughout the study period.
Finally, I remain solely responsible for any errors and shortcomings contained in this study.
I certify that an Examination Committee has met on 29 May 2008 to conduct the final examination of Mardiana binti Mohamad on her Doctor of Philosophy thesis entitled "Inner Experiences and Personal Growth with Person-centred Counselling Among Malay Female University Students in Malaysia" in accordance with University Pertanian Malaysia (Higher Degree) Act 1980 an University Pertanian Malaysia (Higher Degree) Regulations 1981. The Committee recommends that the student be awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree.
Members of the Examination Committee were as follows:
Siti Aishah Hassan, PhD
Lecturer
Faculty of Educational Studies
University Putra Malaysia
(Chairman)
Sidek Mohd. Noah, PhD
Associate Professor
Faculty of Educational Studies
University Putra Malaysia
(Internal Examiner)
Maznah Baba, PhD
Lecturer
Faculty of Educational Studies
University Putra Malaysia
(Internal Examiner)
See Ching Mey, PhD
Professor
School of Educational Studies
University Sains Malaysia
Malaysia
(External Examiner)
__________________________
HASANAH MOHD. GHAZALI, PhD
Professor and Deputy Dean
School of Graduate Studies
University Putra Malaysia
Date: 26 August 2008
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This thesis was submitted to the Senate of University Putra Malaysia and has been accepted as fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The members of the Supervisory Committee were as follows:
Lily Mastura Haji Harun, PhD
Associate Professor
Faculty of Educational Studies
University Putra Malaysia
(Chairman)
Halimatun Halaliah Mokhtar, PhD
Lecturer
Faculty of Educational Studies
University Putra Malaysia
(Member)
Asnarulkhadi Abu Samah, PhD
Lecturer
Faculty of Human Ecology
University Putra Malaysia
(Member)
_____________________________
AINI IDERIS, PhD
Professor and Dean
School of Graduate Studies
University Putra Malaysia
Date: 11 September 2008
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DECLARATION
I declare that the thesis is my original work except for quotations and citations which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not been previously, and is not concurrently, submitted for any other degree at University Putra Malaysia or at any other institution.
___________________________
MARDIANA BINTI MOHAMAD
Date: 15 August 2008
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page | <><> |
ABSTRACT | <><> ii | <><>
ABSTRAK | <><> v | <><>
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS | <><> viii | <><>
APPROVAL | <><> x | <><>
DECLARATION | <><> xii | <><>
LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES | <><> xvi i | <><>
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS | <><> xviii | <><>
