Counseling and Educational Research: Evaluation and Application / Edition 2

by Rick A. Houser

Overview

Textbooks traditionally used in research methods courses generally are either written for fields other than counseling and education or take the higher-level ædeveloping and designing' approach that is irrelevant to counseling students. This textbook is written specifically for basic research methods courses in masters-level education and counseling programs. It focuses on interpretation and evaluation of scholarly and scientific research and then takes students through the process of developing research projects. Using concrete examples from the professional literature, Counseling and Educational Research clearly illustrates the research concepts that will be valuable to future professionals. Although it is primarily intended as a text, this volume will have enormous value to practitioners. It emphasizes the importance of being a good consumer of research and attempts to teach the practitioner how to conduct research practically. Throughout the book are examples from the professional literature to illustrate how to interpret and evaluate research.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781412956604
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	11/19/2008
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Rick Houser is currently Professor and Department Head in Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodology, and Counseling at The University of Alabama. He has been Associate Dean in the College of Education at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Also, he was a professor and department chair for several years at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Rick Houser has taught graduate-level research courses for more than 25 years. He received his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh in rehabilitation counseling with a minor in research methodology. He conducts research in ethical decision making, stress and coping, educational neuroscience, and neuroscience and counseling.

Table of Contents

Foreword xi

Preface xv

Acknowledgments xvi

Section I Introduction to the Research Process 1

1 Science and the Research Process 3

Definitions of Science and Research 4

Practitioner-Scientist 6

Assumptions About Science and Research 7

Relevance of Using and Applying Skills in Evaluating Research 9

Steps in the Scientific Process 10

Purpose and Overview of the Text 11

2 Searching Articles in Professional Journals and Online Databases 17

Database Searches 18

Electronic Journals 19

Search Engines 19

Plagiarism 21

Summary 22

3 Basics of Statistical Methods 23

Measurement Scales 23

Common Statistical Definitions 25

Descriptive Statistics 26

Inferential Statistics 30

Nonparametric Statistics 40

Summary 41

4 Quantitative Research and Research Designs 43

Types of Variables 43

Research Designs 45

True Experimental Designs 46

Quasi-Experimental Designs 52

Pre-Experimental Designs 54

Descriptive Designs 57

Summary 59

5 Qualitative Research Methods 61

Advantages and Disadvantages of Qualitative Research 62

Units of Data Collection 64

Traditions or Paradigms in Conducting Qualitative Research 67

Case Study Approach 67

Ethnographic 69

Grounded Theory 70

Phenomenological 71

Historical 72

Summary 73

6 Mixed Methods Research 75

History of Mixed Methods Research 75

Triangulation 77

Mixed Research Models 78

Research Study Examples of Mixed Methods 79

Summary 80

7 Evidence-Based Research Methods 81

Definitions of Evidence-Based Practice 82

Steps in Evidence-Based Practice 83

Principles of Evidence-Based Practice 83

Criticisms of Evidence-Based Practice 84

Examples of Evidence-Based Practice 84

Summary86

8 Ethics and Research 87

Ethical Principles and Guidelines 88

Guidelines for Evaluating the Research Literature 90

Evaluation of Research Presented in the Professional Literature 92

Tuskegee Syphilis Study 92

Milgram Study 94

Other Studies 95

Summary 97

Section II Evaluating Articles in the Professional Literature 99

9 Evaluating the Literature Review 101

Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating Research 103

Evaluation of Examples From the Research Literature 104

Study 1 Quantitative Research 104

Study 2 Qualitative Research 108

Summary 110

Exercises 111

10 Evaluating the Purpose Statement and Hypotheses 113

Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating the Purpose Statement 116

Evaluation of Examples From the Research Literature 116

Study 1 Quantitative Research 116

Study 2 Qualitative Research 118

Summary 119

Exercises 119

Quantitative Research Hypotheses 120

Indirect Proof: An Orientation to the Scientific Approach 120

Types of Hypotheses 121

Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating Hypotheses 124

Evaluation of Examples From the Research Literature 125

Study 1 Quantitative Research 125

Study 2 Qualitative Research 126

Evaluating a Hypothesis in Qualitative Research Methods 127

Summary 128

Exercises 128

11 Evaluating the Methods Section-Sampling Methods 129

Sampling Methods Used in Quantitative Research 131

Sample Size 134

Sampling Methods in Qualitative Research 135

Sampling Errors and Sampling Bias 136

Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating the Methods Section Sample 137

Evaluating Examples From the Research Literature 138

Study 1 Quantitative Research 138

Study 2 Qualitative Research 140

Summary 142

Exercises 143

12 Evaluating the Methods Section-Procedures 145

Description of Study Variables 146

Random Assignment 146

Threats to Internal Validity 149

Threats to External Validity 154

Evaluation of Examples From the Literature 159

Study 1 Quantitative Research 159

Study 2 Qualitative Research 162

Summary 165

Exercises 165

13 Evaluating the Methods Section-Instruments 167

Standardization of Instruments 167

Culture, Gender, and Diversity Bias 168

Reliability of Instruments 168

Validity of Instruments 170

Approaches to Measuring the Dependent Variable 171

Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating the Instruments-Quantitative Research 176

Evaluating Examples From the Research Literature-Quantitative Research 176

Study 1 Quantitative Research 176

Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating the Instruments-Qualitative Research 178

Summary 180

Exercise 181

14 Evaluating the Results Section 183

Part I Quantitative Research Results 184

Descriptive Statistics 184

Inferential Statistics 184

Summary 185

Guidelines for Evaluating the Results Section-Quantitative Research 185

Evaluating Examples From the Research Literature-Quantitative Research 186

Quantitative Study Example 186

Part II Evaluating the Results Section-Qualitative Research 187

Summary 190

Guidelines for Evaluating the Results Section-Qualitative Research 190

Evaluating an Example From the Results Section: Qualitative Research 190

Exercises 192

15 Evaluating the Discussion Section 193

Guidelines for Evaluating the Discussion Section 194

Evaluating Examples From the Research Literature 195

Quantitative Research Study 195

Qualitative Research Study 197

Summary 199

Exercises 199

Section III Application of Research and Evaluation 201

16 Developing a Research Proposal and Conducting Research in Practice 203

Practitioner-Researchers 205

Developing a Research Proposal 205

Practical Considerations in Conducting Research 212

Summary 213

17 Development and Application of Program Evaluation Research 215

Definitions of Program Evaluation Research 216

Professional Standards for Program Evaluation 217

Types of Evaluations 217

Evaluation Models 218

Steps in an Evaluation 219

Summary 223

18 Current and Future Issues in Counseling and Educational Research 225

The Practitioner-Scientist Model 225

The Relevance of Research to Practice 228

Conducting Research From a Cross-Cultural and Diversity Perspective 230

Summary 231

Glossary 233

References 241

Index 257

About the Author 277

Editorial Reviews

A textbook which presents basic research methods for master's level education and counseling students. Houser (psychology and counseling, U. Mass in Boston) looks at quantitative research and research designs, qualitative research methods, literature reviews and purpose statements, procedures and instrumentation, and ethical issues. The emphasis is on being a good consumer of research and on using research in practice. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

"Houser is the best text available for a master’s level course that examines research from the perspective of counseling practitioners rather than researchers."

Annette F. Nelligan

"Houser describes research methodology and techniques in a way that novice researchers can understand. This book is written in a wonderful transparent style."

Delila Owens

"The Counseling and Educational Research text is a wonderful way to help familiarize Masters-level counseling students with the research process, and how it can be used to enhance their own understanding of research. It is a practical and easy read…I would recommend it for any Master-level counseling course."

Ja’net M. Seward

"Houser is an exceptional writer whose examples and explanations assist each one of us in understanding the complexity of research.

Jo Ann Jankoski

"This textbook is timely, relevant, and student friendly."

Lakitta Johnson

"This text is an effective tool in counseling research education. It reads easy and is clear in both clarity and flow."

Shon D. Smith

Throughout the book, I was struck with Houser’s lucidity and skill in summarising. Overall the short, well-researched chapters do work. As a Third Edition, the book has many updated features. The book is both generally useful and particularly suitable for those in the education and counselling ??????fields.

Dr Anuradha J Bakshi