Introduction to reading research

Abstract

[Chapter Overview]: Chapter 29. Introduction to reading research by Travis Gee and Nadine Pelling provides an introduction to reading both quantitative and qualitative research articles for the practising counsellor. The intention behind this chapter is to encourage counsellors and students of counselling to be able to simply read the research literature with a basic understanding of how to interpret research, how to read it more easily, and how to get something out of the research that might help in practical work. This chapter is particularly useful in basic methods courses, and is a welcome resource in the counselling field where we have traditionally needed to borrow research methods texts from other disciplines. Because counselling is such an interdisciplinary' practice across the education and health sector, the chapter will also be of help to education, clinical psychology, psychology, social work, and allied health disciplines such as nursing where an article on reading research methods has currency. We encourage students starting out to come back many times to this chapter, and to grapple with the ideas presented. It is a valuable skill to be able to hook up to a local university library and access instantly hundreds and thousands of articles on any given topic that might come up in private practice, or while working in a community agency. Being able to do this ought to be an ethical responsibility on the part of counsellors working in the field, because as professionals we certainly need to constantly update our knowledge and to access the most current and evidence-based awareness on practical issues in assessment, treatment, and client care. We ensure you that if you grapple with this chapter, and you stay with it until you understand the content well, this knowledge will have long term positive outcomes for your academic and professional careers, and will stand you in good stead when and if you decide to do an honours research program in future.