i
,Chapter 1: Contemporary Issues in Counseling Research
Overview of chapter
Counselors are paying increasing attention to the efficacy of their practice as evidenced by counseling
research. The shift in focus is largely the result of managed care and third-party reimbursement provisions. This
introductory chapter covers the role of counseling research in effective service provision, the Scientist-Practitioner
model, and Empirically Supported Treatments. This chapter also serves as an introduction to the fundamentals of
research including the roles, benefits, and challenges of research; an understanding of the scientist-practitioner
model; an overview of basic types of research; and the formulation of research questions, hypotheses, and
methodology.
.
Key words
Scientist Practitioner (SP) model – integration of research and therapy
Scientist practitioner – researchers who use data-based interventions that have been proven to be effective through
research
Empirically Supported Treatments (EST) – treatments that have been found to have important effects on specific
problems
Representativeness – sampling concept that indicates the sample provides researchers access to the data needed and
can provide the same results as studying an entire population
Validity - the extent to which the results of a measurement or procedure actually serve the purpose for which it is
intended
Reliability - the extent to which the results of a measurement or procedure actually serve the purpose for which it is
intended
Research question - a statement of the problem and its significance
Random sampling - every person in the population has an equal and independent opportunity to participate in the
research
Systemic sampling - method which involves choosing every 5th person on a list of potential participants
Stratified random sampling - method which ensures that identified subgroups are represented in the sample; each
subgroup is sampled equally
Cluster sampling - a successive series of random samples used when the overall population under consideration is
too large for simple random sampling methods
Convenience sampling - made up of the members of the larger population that are most accessible to the researcher;
gathered based on non-random methods; also known as opportunity samples
Scientist-practitioner - uses research as the basis for reflective practice and to generate ongoing rigor in clinical
skills
Chapter Outline
I. Scientist practitioner
a. Managed care – limited number of sessions to provide services
1
, b. Role of evidenced based treatment
c. Treatment of all cases a formal research projects
d. SP model views counselors as having three roles
i. Producers of new data
ii. Consumers of research
iii. Evaluators of effective therapy
e. Relationship of SP model to basic counseling skills
f. Data Based Problem Solver Model as extension of SP model
II. World of Counseling Research
a. Research on theory and effective models
i. Outcome more attributable to common factors than for a particular theory
ii. Role of Empirically Supported Treatments (EST)
b. Research on counselors
i. Key elements affecting client outcome - counselor’s level of skill, cognitive complexity, ability to
relate to clients
c. Journals as primary sources of counseling research
I. What is Research? Why Conduct Research?
a. Research defined
b. How research informs the counseling profession
c. The role of the scientist-practitioner in counseling
d. How research ideas are developed
e. Basic research components
i. Research questions
ii. Hypotheses
iii. Variable
iv. Research design
1. quantitative
2. qualitative
v. methods of empirical inquiry
1. experiments
a. independent variable
b. dependent variable
2. descriptive research
3. relational or correlational research
II. Importance of sampling and Generalizability
a. Defining and sampling a population
i. Target population
ii. Sample population
iii. Representativeness in sampling
b. Validity
c. Reliability
d. Determining area of interest
e. Research problems
f. Research questions
g. Hypotheses
III. Sampling procedures
a. Random sampling
i. Systemic sampling
ii. Use of random number generator
b. Stratified random sampling
c. Cluster sampling
d. Convenience or opportunity sampling
e. Role of size in sampling
i. Best and Kahn (2006) considerations
2
, 1. larger sample increases likelihood of representativeness
2. survey designs typically require larger samples than experimental designs
3. samples divided into subgroups require large initial sample group
4. mailed surveys require large initial sample sizes due to low response rate
5. subject availability and cost factors influence sample size
IV. Writing the Research
V. Realities of research in counseling
a. Improving/controlling behavior as a goal
b. Accountability to the profession
c. Funding concerns
d. Divide between research and practice
e. Paradigm shift to scientist-practitioner model
f. Ethical and legal considerations
i. Best practice approach
ii. Competency
iii. Role of consultation and supervision
iv. Protection of participants
Suggested Activities
1. Read the following article:
Lenz, S., Bruijn, B., Serman, N. S., & Bailey, L. (2014). Effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy for
Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Journal Of Mental Health Counseling, 36(4), 360-376
How does this article address contemporary issues in counseling research? Specifically, how does it relate to
evidenced based treatment and the scientist-practitioner approach? How does this research inform the
counseling profession?
2. Visit the ACA website at www.counseling.org. What is the flagship journal of ACA? List the titles of 10
recent articles from that publication. Select another division of ACA that interests you. What is its journal?
List the titles of 10 recent articles from that publication.
3. Investigate three of the articles from your list above. What was the research question(s) directing the study?
What were the hypotheses (if applicable)? How did the study conduct sampling? How did the study address
generalizability?
4. Your text states: “When there are gaps between what our clients need and what we are able to provide them,
an idea for research is born”. What counseling issues interest you? What presenting problems do you believe
call for a more effective intervention? Identify the gap between the needs of a particular client type and the
treatments available. Based on this, decide upon a research area that you would like to see investigated. For
example, you may have learned that many of the pharmacological interventions for mood stabilization have
unpleasant and difficult side effects for clients (e.g. weight gain, lethargy, difficulty concentrating). From this
you may decide that you would like to research what non-pharmacological interventions provided by
counselors provide the most effective treatment for clients suffering from bipolar disorder.
5. In the previous activity, you identified an area of interest or a research problem. Using the examples provided
in your text, develop a corresponding research question and one or more hypotheses for this identified
research problem.
3
,Chapter 1: Contemporary Issues in Counseling Research
Overview of chapter
Counselors are paying increasing attention to the efficacy of their practice as evidenced by counseling
research. The shift in focus is largely the result of managed care and third-party reimbursement provisions. This
introductory chapter covers the role of counseling research in effective service provision, the Scientist-Practitioner
model, and Empirically Supported Treatments. This chapter also serves as an introduction to the fundamentals of
research including the roles, benefits, and challenges of research; an understanding of the scientist-practitioner
model; an overview of basic types of research; and the formulation of research questions, hypotheses, and
methodology.
.
Key words
Scientist Practitioner (SP) model – integration of research and therapy
Scientist practitioner – researchers who use data-based interventions that have been proven to be effective through
research
Empirically Supported Treatments (EST) – treatments that have been found to have important effects on specific
problems
Representativeness – sampling concept that indicates the sample provides researchers access to the data needed and
can provide the same results as studying an entire population
Validity - the extent to which the results of a measurement or procedure actually serve the purpose for which it is
intended
Reliability - the extent to which the results of a measurement or procedure actually serve the purpose for which it is
intended
Research question - a statement of the problem and its significance
Random sampling - every person in the population has an equal and independent opportunity to participate in the
research
Systemic sampling - method which involves choosing every 5th person on a list of potential participants
Stratified random sampling - method which ensures that identified subgroups are represented in the sample; each
subgroup is sampled equally
Cluster sampling - a successive series of random samples used when the overall population under consideration is
too large for simple random sampling methods
Convenience sampling - made up of the members of the larger population that are most accessible to the researcher;
gathered based on non-random methods; also known as opportunity samples
Scientist-practitioner - uses research as the basis for reflective practice and to generate ongoing rigor in clinical
skills
Chapter Outline
I. Scientist practitioner
a. Managed care – limited number of sessions to provide services
1
, b. Role of evidenced based treatment
c. Treatment of all cases a formal research projects
d. SP model views counselors as having three roles
i. Producers of new data
ii. Consumers of research
iii. Evaluators of effective therapy
e. Relationship of SP model to basic counseling skills
f. Data Based Problem Solver Model as extension of SP model
II. World of Counseling Research
a. Research on theory and effective models
i. Outcome more attributable to common factors than for a particular theory
ii. Role of Empirically Supported Treatments (EST)
b. Research on counselors
i. Key elements affecting client outcome - counselor’s level of skill, cognitive complexity, ability to
relate to clients
c. Journals as primary sources of counseling research
I. What is Research? Why Conduct Research?
a. Research defined
b. How research informs the counseling profession
c. The role of the scientist-practitioner in counseling
d. How research ideas are developed
e. Basic research components
i. Research questions
ii. Hypotheses
iii. Variable
iv. Research design
1. quantitative
2. qualitative
v. methods of empirical inquiry
1. experiments
a. independent variable
b. dependent variable
2. descriptive research
3. relational or correlational research
II. Importance of sampling and Generalizability
a. Defining and sampling a population
i. Target population
ii. Sample population
iii. Representativeness in sampling
b. Validity
c. Reliability
d. Determining area of interest
e. Research problems
f. Research questions
g. Hypotheses
III. Sampling procedures
a. Random sampling
i. Systemic sampling
ii. Use of random number generator
b. Stratified random sampling
c. Cluster sampling
d. Convenience or opportunity sampling
e. Role of size in sampling
i. Best and Kahn (2006) considerations
2
, 1. larger sample increases likelihood of representativeness
2. survey designs typically require larger samples than experimental designs
3. samples divided into subgroups require large initial sample group
4. mailed surveys require large initial sample sizes due to low response rate
5. subject availability and cost factors influence sample size
IV. Writing the Research
V. Realities of research in counseling
a. Improving/controlling behavior as a goal
b. Accountability to the profession
c. Funding concerns
d. Divide between research and practice
e. Paradigm shift to scientist-practitioner model
f. Ethical and legal considerations
i. Best practice approach
ii. Competency
iii. Role of consultation and supervision
iv. Protection of participants
Suggested Activities
1. Read the following article:
Lenz, S., Bruijn, B., Serman, N. S., & Bailey, L. (2014). Effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy for
Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Journal Of Mental Health Counseling, 36(4), 360-376
How does this article address contemporary issues in counseling research? Specifically, how does it relate to
evidenced based treatment and the scientist-practitioner approach? How does this research inform the
counseling profession?
2. Visit the ACA website at www.counseling.org. What is the flagship journal of ACA? List the titles of 10
recent articles from that publication. Select another division of ACA that interests you. What is its journal?
List the titles of 10 recent articles from that publication.
3. Investigate three of the articles from your list above. What was the research question(s) directing the study?
What were the hypotheses (if applicable)? How did the study conduct sampling? How did the study address
generalizability?
4. Your text states: “When there are gaps between what our clients need and what we are able to provide them,
an idea for research is born”. What counseling issues interest you? What presenting problems do you believe
call for a more effective intervention? Identify the gap between the needs of a particular client type and the
treatments available. Based on this, decide upon a research area that you would like to see investigated. For
example, you may have learned that many of the pharmacological interventions for mood stabilization have
unpleasant and difficult side effects for clients (e.g. weight gain, lethargy, difficulty concentrating). From this
you may decide that you would like to research what non-pharmacological interventions provided by
counselors provide the most effective treatment for clients suffering from bipolar disorder.
5. In the previous activity, you identified an area of interest or a research problem. Using the examples provided
in your text, develop a corresponding research question and one or more hypotheses for this identified
research problem.
3
