Counseling and Educational Research : Evaluation and Application

by Houser, Rick

• ISBN13: 9780761907404
• ISBN10: 0761907408
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-06-30
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc

Summary

'Aimed at those studying at Masters level... this is a concentrated and thorough read... The systematic and methodical approach to the description of research processes is excellent... In working with organizations, we have all become used to a culture of evaluation and accountability. This book gives us an opportunity to fill in some of the gaps in our training which commonly ignores both. The author invites us to become practitioner//scientists or researchers. We are asked to take some active responsibility for our methods of practice by evaluating evidence and therefore achieving maximum effectiveness - a stimulating challenge' - Counselling at WorkThis book focuses on the interpretation and evaluation of scholarly and scientific research, taking students through the process of developing research projects. Using concrete examples from the professional literature used by students in counselling and educational research, the author clearly illustrates the research concepts valuable to these future professionals.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Joseph G. Ponterotto
Preface	xi
Acknowledgments	xiii
Section 1 Introduction to the Research Process
Science and the Research Process	3	(12)
Definitions of Science and Reserch	4	(3)
Assumptions About Science and Research	7	(2)
Steps in the Scientific Process	9	(1)
Purpose and Content of This Text	10	(5)
Quantitative Research and Research Designs	15	(22)
Measurement Scales	16	(2)
Types of Variables	18	(1)
Research Designs	19	(17)
Summary	36	(1)
Qualitative Research and Research Methods	37	(12)
Units of Data Collection	39	(2)
Methods or Traditions in Conducting Qualitative Research	41	(5)
Summary	46	(3)
Ethics and Research	49	(14)
Ethical Principles and Guidelines	50	(2)
Guidelines for Evaluating the Research Literature	52	(2)
Evaluation of Research Presented in the Professional Literature	54	(5)
Summary	59	(4)
Section 2 Evaluating Articles in the Professional Literature
Evaluating the Literature Review	63	(10)
Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating Research	65	(1)
Evaluation of Examples From the Research Literature	66	(5)
Summary	71	(2)
Evaluating the Purpose Statement	73	(10)
Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating the Purpose Statement	76	(1)
Evaluation of Examples From the Research Literature	76	(5)
Summary	81	(2)
Evaluating Hypotheses	83	(14)
Indirect Proof: An Orientation to the Scientific Approach	84	(1)
Types of Hypotheses	84	(3)
Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating Hypotheses	87	(1)
Evaluation of Examples From the Research Literature	88	(4)
Developing a Hypothesis in Qualitative Research Methods	92	(1)
Summary	93	(4)
Evaluating the Methods Section: The Sample	97	(20)
Sampling Methods Used in Quantitative Research	99	(4)
Sample Size	103	(1)
Sampling Methods in Qualitative Research	104	(1)
Sampling Errors and Sampling Bias	105	(1)
Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating the Methods Section Sample	106	(1)
Evaluating Examples From the Research Literature	107	(7)
Summary	114	(3)
Evaluating the Methods Section: Procedures	117	(22)
Description of Study Variables	118	(1)
Random Assignment	119	(2)
Threats to Internal Validity	121	(6)
Threats to External Validity	127	(5)
Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating Procedures	132	(1)
Evaluation of Examples From the Research Literature	133	(6)
Evaluating the Methods Section: Instrumentation	139	(18)
Standardization of Instruments	140	(1)
Culture, Gender, and Diversity Bias	140	(1)
Reliability of Instruments	141	(1)
Validity of Instruments	142	(2)
Approaches to Measuring the Dependent Variable	144	(5)
The Use of Triangulation in Qualitative Approaches to Measuring the Dependent Variable	149	(1)
Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating the Instruments	149	(1)
Evaluating Examples From the Research Literature	150	(4)
Summary	154	(3)
Evaluating the Results Section	157	(30)
Part I: Quantitative Research Results	158	(6)
Inferential Statistics	164	(8)
Summary	172	(1)
Guidelines for Evaluating the Results Section: Quantitative Research	173	(1)
Evaluating Examples From the Research Literature: Quantitative Research	173	(5)
Part II: Evaluating the Results Section: Qualitative Research	178	(3)
Summary	181	(1)
Guidelines for Evaluating the Results Section: Qualitative Research	181	(1)
Evaluating an Example From the Results Section: Qualitative Research	182	(5)
Evaluating the Discussion Section	187	(12)
Guidelines for Evaluating the Discussion Section	189	(1)
Evaluating Examples From the Research Literature	189	(6)
Summary	195	(4)
Section 3 The Application of Research and Evaluation
Development and Application of Research	199	(12)
Developing a Research Proposal	201	(8)
Practical Considerations in Conducting Research	209	(1)
Summary	210	(1)
Development and Application of Program Evaluation Research	211	(16)
Definitions of Program Evaluation Research	213	(1)
Professional Standards for Program Evaluation	214	(1)
Types of Evaluations	215	(1)
Steps in an Evaluation	216	(4)
An Example of a Needs Assessment	220	(2)
Summary	222	(5)
Section 4 Issues in Counseling and Educational Research
Current and Future Issues in Counseling and Educational Research	227	(10)
The Practitioner-Scientist Model	228	(2)
Accountability in Counseling and Education Research	230	(1)
The Relevance of Research to Practice	231	(1)
Alternative Versus Traditional Research Designs	232	(1)
Conducting Research From a Cross-Cultural and Diversity Perspective	233	(1)
Summary	234	(3)
Glossary	237	(8)
References	245	(8)
Author Index	253	(6)
Subject Index	259	(7)
About the Author	266