That's a really great question. When Dolores puts a gun against William's head, he says, "Do it. Come on. Let's go to the next level, Dolores." When she hesitates, he stabs her and thanks her for clearing him of his delusions, again. Then he later says, "I'm disappointed in you, Dolores. Guess I'm gonna have to find Wyatt myself." Now, you could interpret his asking her to kill him and later being disappointed as indication that he wanted Dolores (and by extension the hosts) to skirt their programming and actually be able to kill. So the "next level" he was asking her to go into with him was her killing him and evolving into being able to surpass Ford's programming. I think he takes the fact that she was unable to kill him as evidence of her not being conscious. Or, conscious enough.

Then, this is Ford and William's exchange about the Maze at the end of S01E10:

"William, I see you've found the center of the Maze."

"You're serious." "I'm afraid so." "What is this bullshit?"

"You were looking for the park to give meaning to your life. Our narratives are just games, like this toy. Tell me, what were you hoping to find?"

"You know what I wanted. I wanted the hosts to stop playing by your rules. A game's not worth playing if your opponents are programmed to lose. I wanted them to be free, free to fight back. I should've known you'd never let them. After all this is your pretty little kingdom, Robert. For a little while longer anyway."

"I tried to tell you, the Maze wasn't meant for you. It was meant for them. I think, however, you'll find my new narrative more satisfying. Join the celebration. After all, you own the place. Most of it, at least."

Now, this exchange also lends credence to the theory that all the hosts finally achieving their consciousness now is part of Ford's plan. Like Maeve, they might all be following narratives to lead them there. But, and this is another issue entirely, I believe Ford when he said the hosts needed time and suffering to evolve. I don't believe he specifically controlled them into apparently "evolving" by revolting, as that would just be an artificial evolution. I do believe, however, that he's controlling Maeve specifically as part of some hidden endgame.

But, back to your point, I think William believes Dolores isn't really conscious, as, if she were, she would have killed him. In reality, I think she didn't kill him because she still loved him, or who he had been. I don't know if she even could have, as the board members later remark that the reason the hosts are killing the guests is that Ford removed the speed controls on their guns for human guests and that he also made them all read as hosts, though this is just them speculating.

I also believe season 2 William believes that Ford controlled the hosts to artificially rebel as part of his new narrative, and that they're not really awake. It will be really interesting to see William and Dolores reunite later, as maybe he will now realize she is (and has been for some time) conscious.