The Supervisor-Student Ratio: 1:1 versus 1:2

Although an instructor-student ratio of 1:1 is widely accepted and officially sanctioned by educators of occupational therapists, there is no reported experience with other ratios which can serve as a basis of comparision. This study explores the advantages and disadvantages of the 1:2 ratio in clinical supervision, first as anticipated by the supervising therapists (STs), and then as perceived by them and by their students after a trial experience. Results indicated that (a) although STs anticipated only disadvantages for the 1:2 ratio, after an experience with 1:2 clinical supervision, they discovered four unanticipated advantages; (b) 1:2 clinical supervision appears to be a viable alternative to individual supervision if the STs receive educational sessions to assist them in devising and utilizing supervisory strategies for 1:2 supervision; (c) the advantages of the 1:2 ratio were realized by the university and by the students rather than by the STs themselves.