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The Efficacy of Rational Emotive Therapy: A Quantitative Review of the Outcome Research. Coding Procedures (Continued). To determine whether the effectiveness of RET was a function of the degree of similarity to strict Rational Emotive Therapy, two separate coding schemes were used. First, RET studies were classified into comparisons using strict RET methods; Systematic Rational Restructuring or other similar therapy; or CBM treatment procedures which relied on many RET techniques. Second, a rating scheme was derived to assessed the degree of similarity of the treatment group's therapy to RET. This rating scheme was a six point likert scale from 0 (no elements of RET), to 5 (all elements of RET). The studies were rated on various salient features of RET, such as identification, disputation, and modification/replacement of irrational beliefs, homework assignments, and collaborative empiricism between therapist and client, etc. Both the treatment and comparison groups were coded in this manner. Subject and therapist assignment to treatment and comparison groups were also coded. For the subjects, the categories included Random Assignment, where the participants were assigned randomly to either the treatment or comparison groups Matching, where a subject was matched with another from the opposite group Non-Random Assignment, where ex-post facto matching, covariance adjustments, and equating on pretest scores, or order of participation in the study was used Unknown, including those studies which did not mention the method of subject assignment to groups. Therapist assignment used a similar coding procedure with an additional category of comparisons using a Single Therapist for each treatment condition. Subject recruitment was also coded, using procedures adapted from Smith et al (1980). Studies were classified according to the following criteria: The participants recognized the existence of a problem and sought help The subjects responded to an advertisements Subjects were directly solicited by the therapist, typically by offering treatment to psychology students with extreme scores on a criterion measure Individuals were referred for treatment by a third party Participants were committed for therapy, with no choice, as in court ordered treatments.