PYN014 Research for Counselling Practice

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Understanding the implication and lived meaning of research is an integral skill for a professional counsellor. Building on broad aspects of counselling research that have been introduced in PYN000, this unit will provide you with the skills to critically evaluate research articles and support your understanding of key approaches to counselling research design and evaluation of outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Evaluate the Quantitative and Qualitative research process by critically analysing two research papers
2. Critically examine any ethical or cultural impacts of counselling research by appraising methods of data collection and analysis.
3. Integrate the findings of counselling research into meaningful real world practice applications.
4. Synthesise your understanding of counselling research to formulate inclusive ideas from diverse perspectives and minority groups of how research might impact counsellors, clients, and the wider community.

Content

Learning Approaches

The subject material will be presented through a mixture of didactic, workshop, and small group discussion approaches involving structured learning tasks. You will be expected to prepare for the weekly lectures and workshops by reading stimulus material and reviewing key research terminology. The learning approach of this unit encourages critical appraisal and reflection on counselling literature, applies findings from studies to Real World counselling practice, and makes meaning of research for counsellors, clients, and the wider community.  Counselling research will be considered from a decolonising perspective and how folks from diverse backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, might view themselves within the context of research findings. Support for learning is embedded throughout the content that will systematically guide you to synthesise ideas, fully engage you with the academic literature, and help to build auto ethnographic research capability. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive continual formative feedback via class discussion in small group activities and structured exercises. Summative feedback will occur through the two formal assessment items.

Assessment

Overview

This unit will assess your understanding of the research process as an integral component of the therapeutic context. The assessment process involves attendance at lectures, active participation in workshops, demonstration of reflective and analytic skills and development of the therapeutic self. It offers opportunities for interdisciplinary and inter professional learning as you will be exposed to research from a broad range of topics. The two assignments will develop your capacity to critique research papers, engage with the academic literature, and synthesises your thoughts and ideas in robust reflective academic writing. The intention is that successful completion of both assignments will prepare you for auto ethnographic research in your final year. Assessment items will also develop foundational skills for those who wish to build an academic or research career.

You will be required to electronically submit all written assignments for content matching checks.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Critique

Professional counsellors routinely need to read journal articles that impact themselves as practitioners and/or their clients, so it is important for you to have some understanding of the research you might come across. This assessment will draw your attention to specified sections of research articles that will enable you to gain insight into the rigour of the research and robustness of the conclusions drawn by the authors. 

You will be given citations of six published peer reviewed research articles to locate and read. Each article is based on a real world issue or problem relating to counselling practice. Select one qualitative and one quantitative paper to review. Your critical evaluation will focus upon research design, the strengths and limitations of the sample/sampling technique, ethical considerations for participants, and an appraisal of the study through a social constructionist lens.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Reflective Essay

In the second half of the unit we will explore some special topics that influence counselling practice and research. As a group we will collaboratively decide on an interesting question for each special topic to take to the literature. You will then select ONE of the questions and write a reflective essay that synthesises current research and expands your knowledge of the topic. 

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

There is no prescribed text for this unit. You will be given a selection of relevant articles and chapters, chosen for their relevance to the content of the unit.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

PY12 Master of Counselling

1. Critically evaluate and apply theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of counselling research and practice, drawing upon digital capabilities and the qualities of ethical conduct, social inclusivity, reflexivity and reflection in sustainable ways.
   Relates to: Critique, Reflective Essay
2. Scrutinise counselling research literature, reflected in autoethnographic professional practice experience, to develop new knowledge integral to the standards of professional counselling practice and practice innovation.
   Relates to: Critique, Reflective Essay
3. Promote and practice effective written, oral and digital communication processes including advanced listening and dialogue skills, congruent with a collaborative counselling approach, in a range of contexts.
   Relates to: Critique, Reflective Essay