Research Methods in Counselling

Unit code: APT6006 | Study level: Postgraduate
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
City Campus
N/A
Overview
Enquire

Overview

This unit of study provides students with advanced knowledge and techniques in the design of research in the counselling field. The following topics will be explored: introduction to the nature and significance of competing paradigms and methodologies in the research process and the range of research methods used in social science research; application of qualitative and quantitative methods to the counselling field; critical analysis of the design, analysis and interpretation of research in the counselling field; critical examination of the literature in an area of interest in the counselling field; and the application of program evaluation in the counselling field. A parallel purpose of the unit is to provide students with the necessary skills to develop a program evaluation proposal for their thesis.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Students will develop technical and theoretical knowledge of research paradigms and associated research design and methodologies.
  2. Students will critically appraise the application of various quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods in the context of program evaluation.
  3. Students will independently undertake a review of the literature in a chosen area of relevance to the counselling field. They will critically analyse and synthesise the literature, identifying and responding to a problem of concern to the counselling field. They will articulate the outcome of the review in a formal report
  4. Students will plan an intervention appropriate to the problem identified in their review of the literatur
  5. Students will design a methodology to evaluate an intervention and communicate their planned evaluation via a written program evaluation proposal.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Literature Review
|
Grade: 40%
Review of literature in the counselling field (2000 words)
Assessment type: Thesis
|
Grade: 40%
Program and evaluation proposal (2000 words)
Assessment type: Test
|
Grade: 20%
Research methods test

Required reading

Weekly readings to be advised by lecturer and provided via links to VU Collaborate.

As part of a course

This unit is not compulsory for any specific course. Depending on the course you study, this unit may be taken as an elective.

Search for units, majors & minors