Counseling Research Process

Question One

A counselor who adheres to the scientific practitioner framework should approach decision making based on empirical research. The decisions made should be happening in the real world and be proven to work on the applied practice. Through applying evidence-based decisions, counselors are sure that the decisions they make will have a positive output. Additionally, the framework aims at increasing scientific growth in the psychology area, and for this reason, the decisions made should be right not to mislead other counselors. Lastly, the experiences encountered during counseling practice should be used as research questions to help counselors to each time make better and improved decisions.

Question Two

Quantitative research uses numerical data to interpret results from a deductive approach, while qualitative research uses words, descriptions, or characteristics to interpret data from a subjective approach. Quantitative methods include experimentation and questionnaires, while qualitative interviews, observation, surveys, and questionnaires collect data. For instance, in research concerning anxious clients, quantitative research can test the number of times anxious clients feel anxiety in a week. Qualitative research can be used to find out their feelings and why they feel anxious.

Question Three

Purposive sampling is choosing a specific group of people with particular characteristics that the researcher speculates would assist in research to participate in the study. Representative sampling is statistical selection in which a researcher randomly selects a group of people to represent a larger population in a study. Convenience sampling involves a researcher using a group of people in research because they are conveniently available or easily recruited. In such a study as investigating the behavior of anxious people in lonely places, I would use purposive sampling over representative because for the purposive; it will allow me to select respondents with anxiety characteristics rather than just any person.

Question Four

The researcher may ask respondents what methods they are using to manage the covid-19 pandemic stress. The purpose of this question is to determine if the Singaporeans are capable of managing the stress or not. It will also uncover the researcher’s objective of the experience they are encountering because, in the process of stating what methods, they will also explain how they achieve it and the results of the methods. I f I was the researcher, I would ask the respondents what problems they are facing while trying to manage the stress as a follow-up probe. This question can make them open up more. Also, I would ask them how they would like to be assisted, maybe by the government or relevant stakeholders.

Question Five

A researcher must ensure to include respect for persons. Human dignity is the basic principle for any research, and the researcher must respect all the persons involved in the research. The researcher must consider the language to use in which it should be respectable, and how to handle the respondents. Even though the respondents may be of low standards in many aspects than the researcher, they also possess the most valuable information the researcher might be seeking. Therefore, they should be respected. Secondly, the application should contain concern for welfare ethic. The researcher must ensure to safeguard the respondents’ welfare and that the research or whatever they say should not harm or be used against them. The impact of the research on the physical, spiritual, economic, and mental being of respondents should be considered.