AUTOMATED GROUP DESENSITIZATION FOR TEST ANXIETY

The present study was an attempt to develop an automated (i.e. preprogrammed and mechanically administered) group desensitization treatment for test anxiety: to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment of systematic desensitization without counseling; and to determine the importance of the physical presence or absence of the therapist in the sessions. Forty-two test-anxious female college students were divided into three matched groups on the basis of previous semesters' grade point average (G.P.A. ). The three groups consisted of a Waiting List control and two treatment groups; in one group, desensitization was administered by a therapist, whereas in the other, by a tape recorded set of instructions. Both treatment groups manifested a significant improvement in the G.P.A. following treatment, when compared with the control group. In addition, self-report measures indicated that following final exams there was a significant reduction of daily anxiety for treatment groups as compared to the controls. No significant differences were found when the two treatments were compared with each other; however, a strong trend favoring the Therapist-Present group was noted for improved G.P.A. © 1969.