Evidence-Based Coaching Practices Flashcards
7 cards from real IAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Evidence-Based Coaching Practices flashcards as text
Which research design is considered the gold standard for establishing causal relationships in coaching effectiveness studies?
Answer: Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
RCTs randomly assign participants to coaching vs. control conditions, controlling for confounds and enabling causal inference.
The IAC Coaching Masteries emphasize 'Establishing and Maintaining a Relationship of Trust.' What evidence-based mechanism explains why trust accelerates client outcomes?
Answer: Trust reduces the client's psychological threat response, enabling deeper cognitive processing
Neuropsychological research shows trust lowers perceived threat, allowing the prefrontal cortex to engage in the reflective thinking needed for behavior change.
A coach uses motivational interviewing (MI) techniques within a session. Which evidence-based principle of MI is most directly applied when the coach reflects ambivalence back to the client?
Answer: Developing discrepancy
Reflecting ambivalence highlights the gap between current behavior and the client's values, which is the core 'developing discrepancy' principle of MI.
Which validated psychometric instrument is most commonly used in evidence-based coaching to assess client strengths?
Answer: VIA Character Strengths Survey
The VIA Survey, grounded in positive psychology research by Peterson and Seligman, is widely validated for identifying 24 character strengths relevant to coaching.
Research on the coaching relationship consistently identifies which factor as the strongest predictor of positive coaching outcomes?
Answer: Working alliance quality
Meta-analyses of coaching and therapy research show working alliance — the collaborative bond and agreement on goals — is the top predictor of outcomes.
A coach integrates findings from positive psychology research into sessions. Which intervention has the strongest empirical support for increasing client well-being?
Answer: Gratitude journaling
Multiple RCTs have shown gratitude journaling consistently increases subjective well-being and positive affect with lasting effects.
When reviewing coaching research, a practitioner encounters a meta-analysis showing a mean effect size of d=0.68 for coaching on goal attainment. How should this be interpreted?
Answer: Coaching produces a medium-to-large positive effect on goal attainment
Cohen's d of 0.68 falls between medium (0.5) and large (0.8), indicating a practically meaningful and statistically significant effect.