A comparison of views of the role of supervisor held by supervisors in different practicum placements

Seventy practicum supervisors employed in a variety of settings (N = 12) were asked to consider the specific nature of the supervisory role and process of supervision Supervisors rated the importance in terms of effective supervision of a list of 44 separate supervisor items which described various aspects of the supervisory role. Mean scores for each item were transformed into ranks for each setting represented. While there was some similarity in responding across practicum settings, differences emerged which indicated that supervision should not be considered as a common process occurring in a similar; manner over different settings Results argue for the development of specific supervisory models that are designed to enhance professional training.