Introduction to research in counselling

Kevin StandishIntroduction to research

OUCNC1508

Learning objectives1. To understand the scientific method of research2. to describe ways of knowing3. to describe what research can do4. understand the importance of research for

counsellors5. to articulate the principles of research for

counselling

Reflection• What do you understand by research?• In what way does the idea of research put you

off?• What scares you in learning about research?• Can you give an example of research you have

done?• What do you hope to gain from this module about

research?

What is Social Science

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSIdaTSG2Gg

What is research?

What is research?• Research refers to systematic ways conducting a

studies regarding a topic which needs to be explored or a topic that needs to be replicated in terms of its reliability to past and/or present findings

The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

Approaches to research

Research as referring to and be focused on:• The description of some set of

circumstances or domain(s) of experience, so an explanation to be offered

• Concerned with the exploration of practice within particular setting(s) with the view to changing behaviour(s) and/or attitude(s)

• Investigating aspects of own experience and/or rationale(s)

• Classification, conceptualisation and edification of (new, or already existing) theory-ies

• Understanding the meaning of experience so that to be made known to the wide public

• Informative• Transformative• Developmental• Explanatory• Expressive

The positivistic approach to research

• Positivism: “…sense perceptions are the only admissible basis of human knowledge and precise thought” (Sanders & Wilkins, 2010, p. 4)

- Considering acquisition of personal knowledge subject to personal experience

- Considering the reality of senses as the only source of acquisition of personal knowledge.

- Question to be fed by…: “What about reality that cannot be approached by the senses?”

Positivism and Pragmatism• In positivism, “the object of thought is always

localised as the thought of a particular being at a particular time in a particular place” (Kaplan, 1976, p. 49)

• In pragmatism, the reality is unfolded in terms of logic, subjectivity (how reality is explained by the individual)/objectivity (how reality is explained by the many), and social factors

Positivism and being critical

• Main critique to positivism: The positivist conception of science does not presuppose epistemological positivism

- Value-freedom: Factual-judgement and/or/versus value-judgement?

- Is positivism a tenet of rationalisation of knowledge (why we ask what we ask?) or an ‘instrument’ to explain the world? – cogito ergo sum (Descartes)

The social constructivist approach to research

• Constructivism: “Reflecting on our experiences we construct our own understanding of the world we live in” (Sanders & Wilkins, 2010, p. 5)

- Theoretical implications vary- Practical implications too many…- Question to be fed by…: “Can we refer to multiple realities, and

if so, could there be referred to a premise like ultimate reality for all us humans to rely on –bearing in mind that as entities we are all ‘equipped’ of the same ‘biological protocol’ and at times of similar psychosynthesis too?”

Social constructionism and being critical

• Relativism of social constructionism: Co-active inter-subjectivity or inactive inter-objectivity?

- Natural, ethical, and temporal facets- Incompleteness of constructionism without

relativism: Does what we decide to do should always need to lead to a precise outcome, or do we change as long as we move onto the same course?

Positivism and Constructionism in a nutshell

(1) -as by Sanders & Wilkins, 2010, p. 10• Structurelessness or

‘chaos’• Process• Subjective• Internal frame of

reference• Involved• Person-centred• Synthesis• Putting together

• Structure• Outcome• Objective• External frame of

reference• Neutral and detached• ‘Science-centred’• Analysis• Variables are

identified and measured

Positivism and Constructionism in a nutshell

(2) -as by Sanders & Wilkins, 2010, p. 10• Thoughts, feelings,

words, patterns• Complexity and

pluralism• People as persons• Experiential• Description of

experiences• Elaborated from

intuition• Nature• Quality

• Numbers• Reduction to simple

units• People as objects• Measurable and

observable• Abstraction of facts• Deduced from fact• Technology• Quantity

What can research do?• There are many reasons for conducting research; with

the primary driver being the desire to know on the part of the researcher

• Research can be seen as an attempt to establish “evidence-based” credentials of therapy often called outcomes studies

• Alternative investigations focus on the phenomenology of experience….this involves the deep reflection on experience to understand it “from the inside”: heuristic Inquiry

• Given the appropriate method, research can contribute to the knowledge and insight into almost any question that can be framed.

Why should counsellors do

research?• From a research

perspective, they are driven purely and simply by the need to know…curiousity

• A more pragmatic answer is doing research helps you advance your profession

• However the best reason for doing research is that it will in some way improve the lot of clients: evidence-based practice of knowledge and skills to help clients.

9 Principles of Research

1. The primary aim of research is to create knowledge products2. Meaning, or the value of any research depends on where it fits within the existing literature 3. Developing reliable and practical useful research in counselling requires methodological pluralism 4. The purpose of therapy research is to produce practical knowledge that contribute to social justice 5. Good therapy research requires reflexivity

9 Principles of Research

6. To produce genuine knowledge requires a commitment to an ethic of care7. research is a collaborative activity8. The social context is always a key factor in any research on therapy9. The research training environment plays a crucial role

READINGS• 1.McLeod (2015) Principles of research chapter on

NL• 2. Sanders & Wilkins Chapter 1.1 what is research

and why bother