Research Methods for Counseling

Robert Wright earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in 1966, and began teaching high school science. A few years later in 1969 he earned a Masters degree in school counseling from West Chester University and was employed as a public school counselor, first with high school students and later with middle school students. In 1974 he completed a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Educational Psychology with specializations in child & adolescent development and educational measurement from Temple University. As part of that degree he completed a clinical fellowship in rehabilitation counseling at Moss Hospital, part of the Albert Einstein Medical Center (Philadelphia). Following graduation he completed advanced studies in school psychology at Lehigh University. Professor Wright has taught counseling and supervised counseling interns and has also taught educational measurement, and educational statistics & research for graduate students in counseling. He is a member of the American Counseling Association, the American School Counselor Association, the American Psychological Association (Division 17, counseling psychology), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and the American Educational Research Association. He is professionally licensed to practice in Pennsylvania. During his career Professor Wright chaired 114 doctoral dissertations, published and presented over 120 articles and paper presentations and has had four books published.

• PrefaceSECTION I: Using and Valuing Counseling ResearchChapter 1: The Research ConsumerChapter 2: Ethical Research PracticesChapter 3: Reading and Reviewing the LiteratureSECTION II: Qualitative Approaches for ResearchChapter 4: Qualitatively Research I, the Tools and SkillsChapter 5: Qualitative Research II, the ProcessesChapter 6: Action Research MethodsSECTION III: Descriptive Statistics and CorrelationChapter 7: Nature of Variables and DataChapter 8: Mutual Dependence and Correlational RelationshipsSECTION IV: Inferential Statistics and Hypothesis TestingChapter 9: Sampling and Sampling ErrorChapter 10: Scientific Method and Hypotheses TestingChapter 11: Inferences Using Categorical and Nominal InformationSECTION V: Measurement and Psychological AssessmentsChapter 12: Understanding and Evaluating Test ScoresChapter 13: Instrument Development and Survey ResearchSECTION VI: Organizing and Applying Research SkillsChapter 14: Organizing Valid ResearchChapter 15: Mixed Methods ResearchChapter 16: Approaches for EvaluationChapter 17: Writing Research Proposals and ReportsAppendix AAppendix BAppendix CAppendix D