A Computer Method for Solving Dilemmas

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Abstract
The results of two studies which have assessed the effectiveness of Dilemma Counseling on plato and the reaction of students to computerized counseling are reported. Dilemma Counseling is a generic problem-solving method for psychological dilemmas. The method was taught to college students through individual interaction with the plato computer. In addition to the method itself, over 400 sample solutions to more than 70 problems were available on plato. The problems and solutions cover a wide range of topics such as dating, study habits, and occupational choice. In two experiments evaluating plato Dilemma Counseling, a randomized pre-, post-, follow-up measurement design was used. In one experiment, plato Dilemma Counseling ( N = 41) was as effective as standard eclectic counseling ( N = 31) in solving student problems. In a second experiment, students exposed to plato Dilemma Counseling ( n = 48) showed significantly ( p < .01) greater improvement than an untreated control group ( n = 62). These findings and favorable subjective reactions to the teaching and counseling functions of PLATO suggested that a modern computer system can be helpful in solving psychological dilemmas.