Research
Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict and control the observed phenomenon. Research involves inductive and deductive methods (Babbie, 1998) in order to:
- develop explanation by analyzing the observed phenomenon and identify the general principles, structures, or processes underlying the phenomenon observed
- test the validity of the exaplanations by verifying the hypothesized principles through observations
What is the research process?
Gall, Borg, and Gall (1996) describe the stages of conducting a research study as being the followings:
- Identify a significant research problem: in this stage, find out the research questions that are significant and feasible to study
- Prepare a research proposal: a research proposal usually consists of the sections including introductory, literature review, research design, research method, data analysis and protection of human subject section, and timeline
- Conduct a pilot study: the purpose is to develop and try out data-collection methods and other procedures
- Conduct a main study
- Prepare a report
Action Research
CAAP 670 Forum Post:
Action research is described by Kemmis and McTaggart (2005) as saying, doing and relating that can each be transformed, but always in relations to the others. The same authors provide examples and describe a number of broad types of action research such as “participatory research, critical action research, classroom action research, action learning, action science, soft systems approaches and industrial action research”.
Source:https://www.google.ca/search?q=what+is+research
Within this program, I have been engaged in a number of such action research with one that comes to mind being a group project in which we had had to create our own agency that would function according to a clear mandate, rules, and policies especially design for a certain segment of clientele. We had to collect a variety of information to include in our project in order to demonstrate growth and development of competencies in counselling theory and practice; then we had to select what we would include and what would not. Additionally, the group had to gather together to reflect about our individual experiences while working on creating this project; and finally, to discuss these experiences with the group in order to facilitate further reflection and revisions to our project.
Peer responsing to my forum post:
Thanks Daniela, I think that this is a great example (mine was similar)! I think that action research is especially valuable where we encounter a block or gap in our knowledge, or just have an inkling that we need to press further to reach a desired outcome. And the assignment you describe was a good example in my mind because many of us (or, me, at least) have never had to imagine what we would do if we were responsible for developing and leading an organization involved in the provision of counselling services!
Thanks for sharing!
My reply to this peer:
I consider action research to be more of a holistic approach to problem-solving rather than a single method for collecting and analyzing data. For example, I remember that for this assignment we had to use several different research tools with document collection and analysis and case studies being some of them. This assignment ideed provided us with an opportunity to " press further to reach [the] desired outcome" and get a grasp of what means to develop and lead "an organization involved in the provision of counselling services"
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CAAP 670 Forum Post:
Action research is described by Kemmis and McTaggart (2005) as saying, doing and relating that can each be transformed, but always in relations to the others. The same authors provide examples and describe a number of broad types of action research such as “participatory research, critical action research, classroom action research, action learning, action science, soft systems approaches and industrial action research”.
Source:https://www.google.ca/search?q=what+is+research
Within this program, I have been engaged in a number of such action research with one that comes to mind being a group project in which we had had to create our own agency that would function according to a clear mandate, rules, and policies especially design for a certain segment of clientele. We had to collect a variety of information to include in our project in order to demonstrate growth and development of competencies in counselling theory and practice; then we had to select what we would include and what would not. Additionally, the group had to gather together to reflect about our individual experiences while working on creating this project; and finally, to discuss these experiences with the group in order to facilitate further reflection and revisions to our project.
Peer responsing to my forum post:
Thanks Daniela, I think that this is a great example (mine was similar)! I think that action research is especially valuable where we encounter a block or gap in our knowledge, or just have an inkling that we need to press further to reach a desired outcome. And the assignment you describe was a good example in my mind because many of us (or, me, at least) have never had to imagine what we would do if we were responsible for developing and leading an organization involved in the provision of counselling services!
Thanks for sharing!
My reply to this peer:
I consider action research to be more of a holistic approach to problem-solving rather than a single method for collecting and analyzing data. For example, I remember that for this assignment we had to use several different research tools with document collection and analysis and case studies being some of them. This assignment ideed provided us with an opportunity to " press further to reach [the] desired outcome" and get a grasp of what means to develop and lead "an organization involved in the provision of counselling services"
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Program Evaluation
Evaluative processes help the counsellors become a better practitioner and the clients receive better counselling. In my work I have used surveys to assess the effectiveness of the overall program and client satisfaction questionnaires in order to assess if our services meet the needs of clients. In my previous roles I used to check-in with families on a weekly basis, had monthly client case reviews and systematic follow-ups with all the professional involved with my clients. We also documented self-reports, had a suggestion box and did systematic community scanning in order to become aware of what services are being offered in the community in order to allow us to develop missing programming.
Evaluative processes help the counsellors become a better practitioner and the clients receive better counselling. In my work I have used surveys to assess the effectiveness of the overall program and client satisfaction questionnaires in order to assess if our services meet the needs of clients. In my previous roles I used to check-in with families on a weekly basis, had monthly client case reviews and systematic follow-ups with all the professional involved with my clients. We also documented self-reports, had a suggestion box and did systematic community scanning in order to become aware of what services are being offered in the community in order to allow us to develop missing programming.
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Babbie, E. (1998). Survey Research Methods (2nd ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth.
Gall, M. D., Borg, W. R., & Gall, J. P. (1996). Educational Research: An Introduction ( Sixth ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman.
Kemmis, S. (2009). Action research as a practice-based practice, Educational Action Research, 17(3), 463- 474.
Babbie, E. (1998). Survey Research Methods (2nd ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth.
Gall, M. D., Borg, W. R., & Gall, J. P. (1996). Educational Research: An Introduction ( Sixth ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman.
Kemmis, S. (2009). Action research as a practice-based practice, Educational Action Research, 17(3), 463- 474.