Doing Counselling Research, Second Edition is a practical and accessible introduction to the research process within counselling and psychotherapy. Written both as a guide to carrying out research and to using existing findings to inform practice, it provides essential information for all trainees and practitioners. John McLeod guides the reader through the principles and practice of undertaking a successful research project, explaining how to: Review the literature; select appropriate methods (qualitative and quantitative); collect data; design and implement an effective study plan; evaluate findings. Taking account of developments in research methods, the book has been fully revised and updated and includes new chapters on evidence-based practice and practitioner research.

Table of Contents

Doing Counselling Research Reading the Literature Placing Research in Context The Research Process Stages, Tasks and Traps Using Quantitative Methods Test, Rating Scales and Survey Questionnaires Listening to Stories about Therapy From Qualitative Research to Human Science Systematic Inquiry into Individual Cases Does It Work? Evaluating the Outcomes of Counselling Exploring the Interior of Therapy Method and Strategy in Process Research An Ethical Framework for Research Practice Critical Issues in Counselling Research

About the Author

John McLeod is Professor of Counselling at the University of Abertay Dundee, Scotland, and previous Professor of Counselling Studies at Keele University, England. Originally trained in person-centered counseling and psychotherapy, he has shifted in recent years in the direction of a narrative-informed approach. Research interests include the development of qualitative methods for the hermeneutic narrative analysis of interview and psychotherapy transcript data, and the creation of practitioner-oriented research strategies. He has published six books, including An Introduction to Counselling, Second Edition (Open University Press 1998), which incorporates a chapter on narrative approaches, Narrative & Psychotherapy (Sage Ltd, 1997), which reviews recent developments in narrative-informed theory, research and practice, and Qualitative Research in Counselling & Psychotherapy (Sage Ltd, 2000), which includes a chapter on research into narrative and discourse in psychotherapy. He has also published over 30 chapters and papers on a range of counseling and psychotherapy topics. In addition to their academic work, both Angus and McLeod are practicing clinicians who see clients, train and supervise clinical psychologists in psychotherapy and counseling skills and are engaged in psychotherapy process and outcome research. In their work, they attempt to fully integrate theory and research into practice, and they believe that each component of the process-practice, theory, evaluation/research-inform each other.

Reviews

'This is a book I would recommend to any course which deals with research... up to date and sophisticated, a good guide for the student' - Self & Society