Assessing nonprofessional mental health workers with the GAIT. An evaluation of peer ratings.

Coed groups of undergraduates took the Group Assessment of Interpersonal Traits (GAIT) twice with either a 3-week or a 9-week interval. Peer ratings of the nine GAIT scales were unrelated to sex. Test-retest correlations were significantly positive for the short-interim Ss (N = 41) but were generally low for the long-interim Ss (N = 29). Peer-rated GAIT Therapeutic Talent variables (Understand, Accepting-Warm, Open) were significantly correlated with the self-reported Comrey Personality Scale of Empathy, and GAIT Open was significantly correlated with Comrey Activity. GAIT Open, Accepting-Warm, and Best Counselor ratings were significantly correlated with total verbal responses (as counted from audiotapes of the GAIT interactions). The highly intercorrelated GAIT Therapeutic Talent variables may not be discriminated by peer raters. It is suggested that peer GAIT Therapeutic Talent ratings may be tapping an underlying global dimension, Help-Oriented Activity. Attention is called to the need for standardizing Gait ratings and for retaining the economy and ease of the GAIT.