Introduction to reading research

Introduction to reading research

[Chapter Overview]:
Chapter 29. Introduction to reading research by Travis
Gee and Nadine Pelling provides an introduction to
reading both quantitative and qualitative research
articles for the practising counsellor. The intention
behind this chapter is to encourage counsellors and
students of counselling to be able to simply read the
research literature with a basic understanding of how
to interpret research, how to read it more easily, and
how to get something out of the research that might
help in practical work.

This chapter is particularly useful in basic
methods courses, and is a welcome resource in the
counselling field where we have traditionally needed to
borrow research methods texts from other disciplines.
Because counselling is such an interdisciplinary'
practice across the education and health sector,
the chapter will also be of help to education, clinical
psychology, psychology, social work, and allied health
disciplines such as nursing where an article on
reading research methods has currency.

We encourage students starting out to come
back many times to this chapter, and to grapple with
the ideas presented. It is a valuable skill to be able
to hook up to a local university library and access
instantly hundreds and thousands of articles on any
given topic that might come up in private practice,
or while working in a community agency. Being able
to do this ought to be an ethical responsibility on the
part of counsellors working in the field, because as
professionals we certainly need to constantly update
our knowledge and to access the most current and
evidence-based awareness on practical issues in
assessment, treatment, and client care. We ensure
you that if you grapple with this chapter, and you stay
with it until you understand the content well, this
knowledge will have long term positive outcomes
for your academic and professional careers, and will
stand you in good stead when and if you decide to do an
honours research program in future.

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