This lesson will explore the importance and process of coding Motivational Interviews. We’ll look at the various ways coding can be measured and the different labels a code can have. An exercise is provided for you to practice listening to an interviewers tape and coding it in real time.

MITI Coding

Coding is a powerful tool for providing useful feedback to the interviewer on how in line their practice is with Motivational Interviewing. In this lesson we will be looking at the MITI form of coding. MITI stands for Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Code. We further explore the definition of MITI and the importance of coding.

Requisites for Coding Interviews

There are two requirements the staff person must reach in their interview in order for it to be coded by their coach. The staff person must record (at least) 20 minutes of audio from their client meeting, and must designate a change goal for their client to focus on. We explore each of these further and explain what to do if the time is not adequate or the change goal is not designated in the session. 

Two Measures for Coding

While coding a staff member’s interview with a client, the coder is looking to measure two different scores: Globals Scores (overall impression) and Behavior Counts (specific details). The Global Score consists of four measures, while the Behavior Counts consists of eight measures. These measures are listed for each and then further explored.

Global Ratings

Global Ratings are given to the staff person by the coder as a score for their overall impression in their interview. The Global Ratings consist of four measures: Evoking, Softening sustain talk, Partnership, Empathy. Each measure consists of a scale from one to five with a description on its level of implementation. The coach will fill out the scale with the appropriate scores from the coding process.

Practice Coding

We provide an opportunity for you to listen to a taped interview and code it in real time. We recommend that you check your codes with the answer sheet after every 10 statements. After listening to the tape you will fill out a Data Summary sheet to determine the Behavior Counts and Global Ratings. We explain how to calculate and use the data on the Proficiency Rating sheet to determine the score for the staff persons interview with their client.

Please Note : As part of our content licensing agreement, these Motivational Interviewing courses are intended only for those practicing or providing services in Michigan, and only provide CEUs valid to Michigan providers. By enrolling in these courses you certify that you meet this criteria.

1. Review the benefits of coding.
2. Identify what a coder looks for. We’ll explain what observable interviewer behaviors coders look for and what “codes” those behaviors are given.
3. Explain the term “Global measures” and look at what codes these measures are given.
4. Practice coding an actual motivational interview.
5. Coding is like grading an exam. Only here the staff submitting a tape does not get a grade but rather the coder assigns a level of proficiency to the interview.