Research Methods in Counselling (COU292)

This course will provide counselling students with an overview of the research process. This involves the formulation of research questions, literature review, selection and application of appropriate methodologies and research designs, data analysis and the writing of research reports. In particular, students will learn various sampling techniques and be introduced to quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods relevant to counselling research.

• The Nature and Process of Social Research
• Formulating Research Questions and Literature Review
• The Nature of Quantitative Research
• Survey Research
• The Nature of Qualitative Research
• Sampling in Qualitative Research
• Qualitative Interview
• Focus Groups
• Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Research
• Quantitative Data Analysis
• Qualitative Data Analysis
• How to Write Up Your Research

• Explain the key terms, concepts and principles in counselling research.
• Discuss the research steps, processes and methods commonly used in counselling research, and their strengths and/or weaknesses.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the elements/stages of the research process: literature review, research design, sampling, data analysis and report writing.
• Differentiate between terms, concepts and research methods in counselling research.
• Apply suitable research methodologies to a counselling research study.
• Use appropriate sampling methodologies and data analysis strategies for a counselling research study.