Dissertations & Theses - Gradworks

Abstract:

The purpose of the quasi-experimental study was to determine the effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Coaching as a specific intervention in executive coaching. The study used a pretest-posttest design with an experimental group and a control group. Six executives received six coaching sessions during this study. Twelve executives, serving as control subjects, did not receive coaching by any method. Measurement tools (the Working Alliance Inventory, the Goal Attainment Survey and the Satisfaction With Life Scale) provided quantitative outcome data to determine behavior, performance, and emotional change associated with use of SFBC (the independent variable). These measurement tools (the dependent variables) were administered to both groups before and after the 6-week coaching intervention. The WAI – C pretest showed significant differences between the groups suggesting that coaches perceived the working alliance of coached participants to increase to a significantly larger degree than the noncoached group. The SWLS pretest showed significant differences between the groups suggesting that the group that sought coaching had a lower satisfaction with life than the control group at the beginning of the coaching engagement. While the GAS did not produce statistically significant results there was a large effect size suggesting that a very clear difference exists between the two groups. The results of the study provided preliminary empirical support for use of SFBC as an executive-coaching intervention. Recommendations based on the study’s results include replication of the study with a larger sample, additional studies reflective of more rigorous research designs, and use of professional coaches in research studies.