COURSE SYLLABUS
COE 8063 - Research Techniques for Counselors
(Credit: 3 semester hours)

Catalog description: 
The purpose of this course is to help the practicing counselor gain the necessary skills to use existing research 
findings, to write proposals, and to understand basic statistical concepts.

Instructional objectives:
The student will be able to:
1.	Demonstrate the ability to read, evaluate and understand research produced in the behavioral sciences.
2.	Apply research findings to clinical practice.
3.	Understand and use basic statistical techniques.
4.	Recognize and use terminology associated with research.
5.	Recognize the legal and ethical considerations of human subjects research.
6.	Demonstrate knowledge of the basic nature of research design and application to experimental research.
7.	Understand the purpose of research as it applies to the counselor practitioner in a diverse society.


Text:
LaFountain, R. & Bartos, R. (2002). Research and statistics made meaningful in counseling 
     and student affairs. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.


Student assignments and activities:

Research Proposal (60 points). 
Each student will identify a research topic and an applicable strategy to investigate 
that topic (i.e., a specific quantitative design). The student will then develop a comprehensive research proposal, 
which will include the following sections: title, abstract, introduction, and methodology.

This assignment must be prepared using the American Psychological Association's Publication Manual (5th Ed.) format. 
The efficacy of the proposal will be evaluated using the criteria contained in the Guide for Journal Critiques.

In addition to the written product, the research proposal will also be presented during class at the end of the semester. 
The presentation will be a minimum of fifteen minutes in duration.

     (Additional information about the structure and content of this proposal will be provided in class.)


Journal Critiques (20 points each x 4). 
Students will critically review four (4) research articles. These articles will be chosen by the instructor and may focus on any 
topic of interest in current journals in counseling, psychology, or other public health fields.

The format for the Critiques and for the evaluation of this assignment is attached to this syllabus (titled - Guide for 
Journal Critiques).



Examinations (20 points each x 8). 
Quizzes on the material covered in this course will occur each week during the semester.



Assignment of grade points

	Research Proposal      (60 pts)	                       60
	Journal Critiques      (20 pts x 4)		       80
	Examinations	       (20 pts x 8)	              160	
				                     Total    300

Grading Scale

        271 - 300 points = A
	241 - 270 points = B
	211 - 240 points = C
	181 - 210 points = D
        Below 180 points = F


Note: All written assignments must be word-processed and have no spelling or punctuation errors. 
      Assignments with said errors will not be graded.
 






Tentative course schedule									

#1	Introduction to Research Techniques
	        Activity: Review and discussion of student research proposal. 
                 Handout: Survey Methods
													


#2	Lecture: Survey Research Methods
		Reading: Survey Methods Handout
		Activity: Research proposal development



#3	Lecture: Process, Ethics and Approaches in Research
                 Reading: Chapters 1 & 2
                 Activity: Research proposal development



#4	Lecture: Research problems & Hypotheses
                 Reading:  Chapters 3 & 4
                 Activity: Research proposal development
                 Quiz #1 (Survey Methods, Chapters 1 & 2)
		
											

#5      Lecture: Validity
	         Reading: Chapter 5
	         Assignment Due: Research Article Critique #1
	         Activity: Research proposal development
		
										

#6	Lecture: Sampling & Research Designs
	         Reading:  Chapter 6
	         Activity: Research proposal development
	         Quiz #2 (Chapters 3,4, & 5)

										

#7      Lecture: Reliability
	         Reading: Chapter 9
		
										

#8	FALL BREAK




#9      Lecture: Descriptive Statistics (Part I)
		 Reading: Chapters 7 & 8
		 Activity: Research proposal development
		 Quiz #3 (Chapters 6 & 9)
		
											

#10	Lecture: Descriptive Statistics (Part 2)
		 Reading: Chapters 7 & 8
		 Assignment Due: Research Article Critique #2
		 Activity: Peer-Review of Research Article Critique#2

													

#11	Lecture: Inferential Statistics 
		 Reading:  Chapter 10

		 Quiz #4 (Chapters 7 & 8) 
		
											

#12	Lecture: Reporting Research Results
		 Reading: Chapter 11
		
		 Quiz #5 (Chapter 10)
		
											

#13     Lecture: Qualitative Research
		 Reading: Handout
		 Assignment Due: Research Article Critique #3
		 Activity: Peer-Review of Research Article Critique #3
		 Quiz #6 (Chapter 11)


		Research Proposal Presentations

													

#14		Assignments Due: Research Proposal
		Quiz #7 (Qualitative Research)

		Research Proposal Presentations

													

#15		Quiz #8 (Comprehensive learning review)

                Research Proposal Presentations
													




Instructor:
Charles D. Palmer, Ph.D., C.R.C.
Department of Counseling & Educational Psychology
Mailstop 9727 - 511F Allen Hall
Mississippi State, MS  39762
(662) 325-7917 (voice)       cpalmer@colled.msstate.edu       (662) 325-3263 (fax)


Attendance policy:
You are an integral component to the educational properties of this class. 
Your presence and participation in class is desired and required. 


Academic honesty:
Mississippi State University's Academic Honesty rules apply to ALL course products. See your Student Handbook if you have 
a question about possible repercussions.


Accommodations:
Qualified students needing academic accommodation are required to initiate the request process. If you haven't already 
made arrangements and wish to discuss any accommodation needs you may have, office hours and telephone numbers are 
included in this syllabus.

Caveat:
The information and schedule of events contained in this syllabus are subject to change.


 
Selected bibliography

American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the 
     American Psychological Association (5th Ed.). Washington, DC: 
     American Psychological Association.

Campbell, D. & Stanley, J. (1963). Experimental and quasi-experimental 
     designs for research. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally.

Cherry, A. L. (2000). A research primer for the helping professions: 
     Methods, statistics, and writing. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thompson 
     Learning.

Gall, M., Borg, W., & Gall, J. (1996). Educational research: An 
     introduction (6th Ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman.

Heppner, P.P., Kivlighan, D.M., & Wampold, B.E. (1999). Research design 
     in counseling (2nd Ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing 
     Company.

Kratochwill, T. & Levin, J. (1992). Single-case research design and 
     analysis: New directions for psychology and education. Hillsdale, 
     NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 

Monette, D., Sullivan, T., & Dejong, C. (2002). Applied social research: 
     Tool for the human services (5th Ed.). Orlando, FL: Harcourt.

Patton, M.Q. (1990). Qualitative evaluation and research methods (2nd 
     Ed.). Newbury Park, CA: SAGE.

Salant, P. & Dillman, D. (1994). How to conduct your own survey. New 
     York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

Strauss, A. & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded 
     theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE.
 



Guide for Journal Critiques

Use APA format for submitting the journal critiques - see the Publication Manual of the American Psychological 
Association (5th Ed.). Inserting the Running Head is optional, however the critique should include the Header and page 
number beginning with the title page. An Abstract is not needed for each Critique. 

Use the following headings within the critique and address each of the bulleted issues:

Citation for Journal Article (use APA 5th Ed.)
Author, I. I. (date). Title of the article. Journal Name, vol#(issue#), pages xx-yy.

Review of Research Questions
In this section, discuss the research question(s) or hypotheses presented in the article.

Literature Review
Discuss the literature review and its relevance to the research questions presented. 
Were there extraneous elements in the review, and was it written in a clear and concise manner? 
Did the literature review adequately prepare the reader for understanding the study and the approach taken to conduct 
the study?

Methods Section
Discuss the methods section to include comments on the 'sampling technique' used, the data collection strategies and the 
analysis performed. 
Was consideration given to diversity issues? 
What is the relevance of the sample to the population? 
What were the independent and dependent variables, and was the IV manipulated? 
Comment on reliability and validity issues related to the instruments if appropriate. 
Comment on any threats to internal or external validity: subject bias, research bias, etc.

Results Section
Discuss the statistical analysis or manipulation as appropriate. 
Was the analysis appropriate to the sample and data collected? 
If tables or figures were included, do these add clarity and understanding to the results of the study? 
Do the author's conclusions match the results found? 
Do the results and conclusions have practical significance?

Overall Impressions
Summarize any other comments regarding the article and its relevance to practitioners in the field. 
What did this article present that will help you in preparing your research study for this course, or else is relevant 
to you as a counselor?

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