Making the right choice Essay Example

Making the right choice Essay Example Making the right choice Paper Making the right choice Paper I believe the research was valid, based on the answers from certain questions; although it lacked clarity in the hypothesis and vagueness in the questions asked. Despite lack of clarity in some questions, others were very direct and gave clear answers. A number stated that cost would influence their decision to undertake counselling, others said that race would not influence them but gender would.  Advantage: Brought about direct and clear responses  Disadvantage: Sample group to small to reflect wider perspective Reliability:  I believe the answers are reliable for the sample group selected. The questions were reliable in terms of being simple and not over complicated. The outcomes shown in graph gave a fair indication of perception of counselling at that given time. If I had made comparisons with other research methods such as literature interviews or surveys, it may have highlighted a different view.  Advantage: This was a good choice of research method for topic.  Disadvantage: Lack of comparison may change results on outcome. Relevance: Initially, some questions seemed relevant such as age, gender, race of respondents. However, it may not have been politically correct to request this information if the outcome did not show how it was to be used. Other factors may contribute to perception of counselling service that were not asked such as, economic factors / wage, class / geography, disability, status. If I were to do this again I would rethink why I requested this information and made sure they were relevant in the outcome of the results if requested, Alternatively, I could simply not ask for this information, even though I believe that it is relevant.  Advantage: Information may be vital in the outcome of findings  Disadvantage: Not relevant if not used, difficult to collate under Equality or Discrimination Acts. Bias:  The questions were closed therefore not giving the respondent leverage to express views. Use of language such a therapeutic is not helpful and may constitute a loaded question. If the client states they have never undertaken counselling how would they know if it is therapeutic? This may have been dealt with differently if conducted in interview method.  Advantage: Good learning outcome and evaluation for future research. Disadvantage: May have contributed to final results  ETHICAL AND VALUE ISSUES:  Questionnaires are easy to administer confidentially. Often confidentiality is the necessary to ensure participants will respond honestly if at all. Examples of such cases would include studies that need to ask embarrassing questions about private or personal behaviour. (Internet.2)  http://schatz.sju.edu/methods/sampling/intro.html  Confidentiality: Respondents were not required to give information that would personally identify them. Questionnaires were given out safely were there little or no suspicions to answers were raised. All replies were collated and keep safe.  Advantage: Privacy and safety of personal information a paramount concern.  Disadvantage: None identified.  Artificiality:  Within this research I did not identify anything that may be construed as artificiality. I assume the reason for this is based on the question being about counselling as a profession and not personalising or criticising respondent as a user of the service. The questions gave little reason for respondent to become defensive; it was also given and received collectively as opposed to privately. Therefore the permission to be honest and direct was available. However, if this research had been undertaken via interview techniques or observation it may have had a different response.  Advantages: Freedom of choice,  Disadvantage: Limited and unclear questions caused ambiguity, no room for alternative answers such as not applicable or maybe / sometimes.  Choice in participation:  Questionnaires were distributed randomly, or in large groups such as class groups. A brief was given regarding the purpose of the research and no pressure placed on participation. The same can be said to respondents on an individual basis and choice given to participate or abstain. Participants were not given enough choices for an answer; it was either yes or no. Options such as not applicable, maybe or sometimes could have been added.  Advantage: Respondents were given the choice and were under no pressure to complete questionnaire  Disadvantage: None identified.  3. Evaluate the research methods using a piece of research in counselling  Title: Brief dynamic counselling:  Making the right choice  In reading and evaluating the above article I was very impressed with the hypothesis. The background and introduction made it clear to why it was deemed to be good material for research. Unlike my research the writer had given much thought to the subject and examining its implications on counselling practice. The methodology used in this research seems to be Case Studies and Literature review. In view of the topic my thoughts were this may not have been the best method. Richards gave two good examples from both sides of the argument. However, the major context of the research seems to be bias against Brief Therapy / Dynamic counselling with negative undertones / prompts to discourage the reader from considering this could possibly be advantageous for the client.  The person carrying out a research study may be highly  committed and passionate about the project and  therefore less open to seeing potential problems  (McLeod. 2003 pg 168 -169.) The research speaks of society and organisations emphasising lack of time and funding. Although Richards does acknowledge there is a place for this therapy in schools. This highlights that the article was published in 1999 and some articles may take up to two years to be published. Many of the quotes are also almost ten or more years old. Today as I write this society is moving even faster and almost anything can be achieved within an hour or less. Clients still arrive and ask how many sessions they are expected to attend before being given the all clear. It was interesting to see finance and money are still a consideration in counselling, and that agencies, organisations and private counsellors are seeking ways of making counselling affordable.  Ethically, I totally agree that restraints placed on practitioners including strict numbers of sessions or any other description may harm the clients, whether it is financial, lack of resources, poor assessment, inadequate training, and an inexperienced or incompetent counsellor. All these and more can cause more damage than good to the client and profession. The only exception to this would be in of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) where the model may specify that target to be met by a certain number of sessions, and the clients agree to this contract,  Otherwise, ethically after assessment clients should be informed that further sessions may be required outside the allocated time or through private therapy.